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Physical Culture 
for babies 



BY 

MARGUERITE MACFADDEN 

and 

BERNARR MACFADDEN 



DETAILED INFORMATION FOR THE CARE 

AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF 

BABIES FROM BIRTH TO 

CHILDHOOD 



PUBLISHED BY 

PHYSICAL CULTURE PUBLISHING CO. 
29-33 East 19th Street, New York 

12 and 13 Red Lion Court, Fleet Street 
London, England 

Printed in U. S. A. 






DEC 3i 1904 

CUvSS O- XXc, No; 



Copyright, 1904 

by 

Bernaer Macfadden 






\*N 



Entered at Stationers' Hall 
All rights reserved 



CONTENTS 

Frontispiece — A Perfectly Developed Child . 3 
Preface 5 

CHAPTEK I 

baby's greeting 

Significance of the Pirst Cry — Prompt Re- 
sponse to Such, Required and Rewarded — 
Preparations to Insure Safety and Comfort . 17 

CHAPTER II 

baby's first need 

Air the Great Essential — Erroneous Impres- 
sions — Excessive Clothing Detrimental . . 24 

CHAPTER in 

baby's bed 

A Separate Bed Should be Provided — Iron or 
Brass Bed Preferable — Bed Covering . . 29 

CHAPTER IV 

preparations for sleep 

The Place Whore Baby Spends the Greater 
Part of His Time Should Always be in Readi- 
V 



vi CONTENTS 

ness — Frequent Airings — Proper Position 
Necessary — The Pernicious Habit of Rock- 
ing 37 

CHAPTER V 

baby's bath 

The Pirst Bath — Temperature to be Very 
Gradually Reduced — The Proper Time for a 
Bath — Preparations for Same — Tempera- 
ture of Room — Special Care in Bathing 
Eyes, Mouth, Ears, etc. — Care of the Navel 

— Powder Injurious — Friction Bath ... 42 

CHAPTER VI 

CARE OF BABY'S HAIR 

Cause of Accumulation of Scurf on Baby's 
Head — Easily Remedied — Best Prepara- 
tions for its Effectual Removal — Never Use 
a Comb 49 

CHAPTER VII 
baby's ears 

A Certain Amount of "Wax Required by Nature 

— Directions for Removing Surplus With- 
out Injury to these Sensitive Organs ... 52 

CHAPTER VIII 

CARE OF BABY'S EYES 

Particular Care for these Most Delicate Organs 

— Simple Methods by which Future Trouble 



CONTENTS yii 

May be Avoided — Some Home Remedies for 
the Relief of Slight Inflammation ... 55 

CHAPTER IX 

HYGIENE OF BABY'S MOUTH 

The Necessity for Especial Care where Artificial 
Food is the Diet — 'Simple Solution for 
Cleansing Mouth — Best Emollient for Lips, 
etc 58 

CHAPTER X 

IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING REGULAR HABITS IN 
EARLIEST INFANCY 

Internal Cleanliness, as Essential, If Not More 
So, Than External — Water to be Freely Ad- 
ministered at All Times 61 

CHAPTER XI 

baby's wardrobe 

The Doing Away with All Constricting Gar- 
ments — The " Barry Coat " and " Pinning 
Blanket" Tabooed Entirely — All Garments 
Suspended from the Shoulders — The 
" Band " Only Necessary for a Few Days — 
Long Clothes an Abomination 67 

CHAPTER XII 

THE EXTENT OF BABY'S WARDROBE 

Quantity and Quality of Garments and Material 
for the Mother of Moderate Means — Dainti- 
ness, the First Requisite 74 



yiii CONTENTS 



CHAPTER XIII 
baby's clothing comfortably adjusted 

The "Band" Objectionable — Pins and Tapes 
Instruments of Torture — The Linen Button 
Means of Adjustment " Par Excellence " . .79 

CHAPTER XIV 

baby's foot gear 

Feet Never to be Cramped or Hampered by 
Heavy Stockings or Shoes — Socks Prefera- 
ble to Stockings — Sandals Best Footwear for 
Baby — How to Make Them 84 

CHAPTER XV 

baby's nursery 

Baby's Environment Made Suitable — Rocking 
Chair and Cradle have No Place in Nursery . 88 

CHAPTER XVI 

baby's natural food 

The only Proper Nourishment — Supplied by 
Nature — The Medicinal Value of the First 
Breast Secretion — No Food Required Until 
Nature Supplies Such — Dangers of Over- 
feeding — Weaning Process — Age at which 
the Weaning Process Should be Begun . . 95 

CHAPTER XVII 

the preparation of substitutes 

Such Call for Exacting Care — Scrupulous 
Attention to Nipples, Bottles, etc. — The 



CONTENTS ix 



Amount to be Given at Each Feeding — 
Method of Preparing Cow's Milk — Cane 
Sugar Injurious 102 

CHAPTEK XVIII 

baby's daily outing 

As Necessary to His Well-being as Food and 
Sleep — Best Time for Such — How Outings 
May be Enjoyed at Home — Verandas, Bal- 
cony, and Open Windows Splendid Substi- 
tutes — Air Starvation 108 

CHAPTER XIX 

TEETHING PERIOD NEED NOT BE DREADED 

This Natural Process Not Fraught with Suffer- 
ing or Danger — Proper Care and Hygienic 
Precautions the Unassailable Safeguard in 
Teething Ill 

CHAPTER XX 

AIR BATHS AND SUN BATHS 

More Essential to Baby's Welfare than Aught 
Else — Duration of Bath — Some Healthful 
Exercises to be Indulged in While Taking 
Same 116 

CHAPTER XXI 

BABY'S FIRST STEPS 

Baby Should Never be Urged to Walk — Nature 
the Best Guide in This Matter — Some of the 
Dangers Following His Walking Too Soon . 130 



x CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XXII 

BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT AN IMPORTANT FACTOR 

The Influence of Environment Upon a Baby's 
Mental and Physical Being — Cross, Impa- 
tient People about Baby Tend to Make Him 
Gloomy and Fretful — Bright Surroundings 
Largely Conducive to a Happy, Jolly Disposi- 
tion — Early Impressions Leave a Lasting 
Imprint 134 

CHAPTEE XXIII 

THE CRIME OF SOOTHING SYRUPS 

The Sin of Ignorance in this Direction — The 
Use of Such, All Too Frequently the Root of 
Nervous Diseases, Dyspepsia, etc. — The Sleep 
Induced by Soothing Syrups Nothing but 
Stupor 143 

CHAPTER XXIV 

THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS 

Hundreds of Thousands of Infants Sacrificed 
Yearly — Result of Tradition and Conven- 
tionality, Strengthened by Ignorance . . .156 

CHAPTER XXV 

PHYSICAL CULTURE FOR BABIES 

Physical Culture of Distinctive Benefit from 
Birth to Death — The Limited Muscular 
Powers of the Newly Born Baby — Can be 
Developed Only by Proper and Constant Ex- 
ercise 166 



CONTENTS xi 



CHAPTER XXVI 

EXERCISES FOR MOTHER AND BABY 

Mother and Baby Alike Benefited by Their Ex- 
ercising Together — The Joy and Benefit En- 
hanced by Companionship — A Course of 
Exercises Outlined and Illustrated . . . 186 

CHAPTER XXVII 

A MOTHER'S EXPERIENCE 

The Mother Well Grounded in Physical Culture 
Principles" — Can Supplement the Exercises 
Described with Others of Own Invention . 200 

CHAPTER XXVIII 

A MOTHER'S PHYSICAL CULTURE REGIME FOR HER 



BABY 208 

CHAPTER XXIX 

SOME PHYSICAL CULTURE BABY ATHLETES 

Their "Stunts" — Illustrated as an Aid to 
Mothers 214 

CHAPTER XXX 

POPULAR MISTAKES OF MOTHERS 

Nearly All the Mistakes Made by Mothers Due 
to Delusions as Ancient as they are Persistent 
— Dread of Adopting the " New-fangled 
Notions " — Mothers Must be Progressive . 271 



PREFACE 

There is a prevalent and alarming 
want of knowledge of the simple rules 
which should be observed in the rearing 
and training of babies. Our govern- 
ment authorities have for a number 
of years given a vast amount of atten- 
tion to the raising of domestic animals. 
That department of the Bureau of 
Agriculture which has to do with the 
subject, employs many high priced ex- 
perts, scores of assistants, and dis- 
tributes annually, tons of gratuitous lit- 
erature to those who desire information 
on what is unquestionably an important 
tof>ic. But there is no official cogni- 
zance taken of the human animal on the 
xii 



PKEFACE xiii 

lines as indicated. Washington will 
take pains to tell you how that you can 
insure your chicken or calf, lamb 
or duckling attaining a healthy ma- 
turity. But Washington is silent when 
it comes to the raising of immature 
humanity, and what stands good of the 
officials at the capital seems to be 
equally true of those who could, if they 
would, speak with helpful authority to 
the young and inexperienced mother as 
well as to the older and not infrequently 
ignorant matron. A recognition of this 
regrettable condition is the raison 
d'etre of this book. The authors will, 
through the medium of its pages, try to 
break the ''conspiracy of silence" that 
seems to exist in regard to the proper 
methods of enabling the average baby 
to reach a healthy adulthood. 
Animals are gifted with an instinct 



xiv PREFACE 

which accurately dictates the best means 
of raising their young. The human 
mother, however, is not only devoid of 
such instinct, but is in addition, handi- 
capped by ignorance, harmful customs 
and superstitions, that are the legacies 
of the dark ages and increase in power 
for evil with the lapse of each succeed- 
ing generation. The young woman into 
whose life there enter the duties and re- 
sponsibilities of motherhood finds her- 
self, therefore, confronted with condi- 
tions from which apparently there is no 
escape even if her inclinations prompt 
her to depart from the "good old ways" 
in question. 

Now this book will furnish some com- 
mon sense instruction on rearing babies 
to those whose minds are capable of ab- 
sorbing plain truths. No one realizes 
more thoroughly than myself the dif- 



PREFACE xv 

ficulty of breaking down the old time 
superstitions alluded to. They are like 
a mountainous wall that rises sheer 
athwart the path of progress and re- 
form. 

Thousands upon thousands of babies 
bom into civilized life are practically 
murdered because of the ignorance of 
their parents. Roughly estimated, 
there are perhaps as many as two thou- 
sand children daily sacrificed to the lack 
of knowledge and inability of mothers 
to secure the instruction that is essen- 
tial to the proper care of their babies. 

Every child born with sufficient vital- 
ity to maintain life is capable of acquir- 
ing a normal, healthy body. Mental and 
physical ailments of every character are 
invariably due to the ignorance of 
mothers. The rearing of a child should 
be a task as delightful as it should be 



Xvi PREFACE 

free from the worry and exhaustion that 
usually accompanies it. 

To every mother who is willing to 
read with a free, unprejudiced mind, 
this book will be found to be a source 
of information more valuable than the 
richest gold mine ever discovered. 

Follow the Nature laws as recited and 
interpreted herein in the training of 
these tiny atoms of humanity of yours, 
and they will develop into such perfect 
specimens of humanity as will be a de- 
light to the eye and a source of endless 
satisfaction to your heart and soul. 



^cyl^T.ayiA^ /y^l^A^-^^^^ 




MARION LOOMIS 
A perfectly developed physical culture child, and an 



example of the new 
that is to be, 



race of manhood and womanhood 



CHAPTER I 

baby's greeting 



But yesterday and thee the earth 
Inscribed not on her mighty scroll, 
To-day she opens the gates of birth, 
And gives the spheres another soul. 
— Taylor. 



The involuntary cry that heralds 
baby's arrival, is not a cry of pain, but 
rather an indication of vigor. It also 
betokens that Nature is in the act of 
inflating the hitherto unused lungs 
with life-giving oxygen. It is full 
of significance, being the only medium 
through which the child is to make 
known his wants for months to come. 
It should therefore be heeded at all 
times with the same readiness and love 
17 



18 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

that prompts his greeting on his arrival. 

This cry means so much. The poor 
"wee stranger" during the months of 
his journey hither-ward has been 
breathing through the medium supplied 
by mother Nature within her wonderful 
workshop, viz., the placenta. But now 
he finds himself in a world where he 
must breathe for himself, and so self 
preservation, the first law of existence, 
asserts itself in the note that follows the 
use of his independent air-supplying 
apparatus. 

Let us then endeavor to interpret this 
first call aright. Remembering that he 
has had a tiresome voyagmg, does it not 
first, mean a pleading for rest, second- 
ly, bearing in mind the nature of his late 
surroundings, is not the need for quiet 
indicated until he has accustomed him- 
self to his new ones, and does it not call 



BABY'S GREETING 19 

for the same degree of warmth that he 
has known within his late home. Then 
wrap this precious bundle of pink and 
white in a soft warm blanket and lay 
him aside to rest and accustom his lungs 
to the work required of them. He will 
probably fall asleep promptly and 
should not be disturbed for at least three 
hours, when, if the little body has upon 
its surface that cheesy deposit known as 
' ' vernix caseosa, ' ' such must be removed 
so that the skin will be in a proper con- 
dition to perform its part in the res- 
piratory system of the child. The baby 
should be next carefully anointed with 
pure olive oil, this to be followed by a 
warm bath, the water being from ninety- 
five to one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, 
the best castile soap being used, with a 
soft old towel for drying purposes. 
Just here I might urge the value of sav- 



20 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

ing all the old linen, the older the bet- 
ter, before baby's advent, for to the in- 
finitely delicate skin of the newborn 
nothing can be half so comforting. This 
first bath should not be of longer dura- 
tion than possible as the small stranger 
is easily fatigued, and at this early 
period there is never any vitality of his 
to waste. A soft old blanket makes the 
very best of bathing aprons by rapidly 
absorbing the moisture, besides being of 
much comfort to the child as regards 
ease and warmth. 

A warm room for this first bath is of 
course a necessity, baby being well pro- 
tected from undue currents of air dur- 
ing its performance. Lay him on his 
back on your lap, and wash him as it 
were piece-meal, that is, one member at 
a time, never exposing any more surface 
than is absolutely necessary. Always 



BABY'S GREETING 21 

bear in mind the warm quarters from 
which he has so recently come. Soft 
old linen is preferable to a sponge for 
bathing, unless scrupulous care is taken 
of the latter, it being hung out in the air 
immediately after use. Renew sponges 
often, as old ones are a most prolific 
source of disease contamination. 

The eyes and mouth of baby call for 
the most exquisite care, the former es- 
pecially, being so marvellously delicate. 
For their cleansing a solution of boracic 
acid and some pieces of old linen should 
be always kept on hand, the solution be- 
ing in the proportion of one teaspoonful 
of acid in the form of powder to a pint 
of boiling water. It should be kept well 
corked so that it will be free from dust, 
etc. Only pour out just what is needed 
each time. The old linen squares 
should be used lavishly, never letting 



22 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

the same piece serve for the washing of 
both eyes, but a separate piece for each 
as well as one for the mouth. Now, with 
a tiny compress of this linen, liberally 
oiled to prevent adherence, dress the 
navel. Then slip the child into a tiny 
shirt, next a comfortable dressing gown 
and place him in his crib or bassinet in a 
thoroughly ventilated room, when he 
will be off to dreamland in a twinkling. 

Let those around baby's quarters bear 
in mind the quietude from which he has 
so recently come and shield him from 
loud or jarring noises, remembering the 
delicacy of his mechanism, and that his 
greatest needs just now are rest and 
quiet, together with plenty of fresh air. 
So shall he begin aright to take his place 
on life's vast stage. 

That the room must be shrouded in 
darkness is an entirely erroneous idea. 



BABY'S GREETING 23 

The light should of course be subdued 
until the eyes of the babe are accus- 
tomed to it, yet as the eye from birth is 
fitted to meet the light, the latter is quite 
as indispensable as air to his well be- 
ing, if discreetly introduced. This 
habit of sleeping only in a darkened 
room should never be acquired. There 
is no reason whatever for the custom. 



CHAPTER II 



"A Fairy came from her opal cave, 

In the depths of the onyx sea, 
And brought a babe with golden hair, 

And sparkling eyes like diamonds rare, 
And lips like rose, and skin so fair, 

And little hands with dimples deep 
To rub his eyes when he wanted sleep, 

And short plump legs with which to creep." 

The old superstition that Divine rev- 
elation will guide each mother with un- 
erring wisdom as to the care of her 
baby from its birth has long since been 
superseded by the belief that even be- 
fore its arrival a mother should bring 
all her God-given powers to bear on as- 
sisting Nature in perfecting the unborn. 
She should supplement a mother's love 
24 



BABY'S FIRST NEED 25 

and instinct, by such training as will fit 
her aright for her duties as parent and 
guide, rather than trust to the broken 
reed of a groundless belief that Provi- 
dence will help those who refuse to help 
themselves. 

Oliver Wendell Holmes tells us that 
it is sometimes necessary to begin at 
least two hundred years before birth, if 
a child is to have the inheritance it has 
a right to demand of its progenitors. 
Be this as it may, of one thing we are 
certain, and that is that, since he has 
arrived, we must gladly yet fervently 
shoulder this little bundle of responsi- 
bility as it unfolds itself to us. At first 
its physical needs and development de- 
mand all our care and " attention, for 
the intellectual faculties are as yet in- 
active. Our aim in the beginning, then, 
must be to assist Nature in the es- 



26 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

tablishing of a firm physical basis on 
which to build aright the body that is 
the temple of the budding soul. 

The first essential of life being air, let 
us give that the consideration due it. As 
was mentioned in the foregoing chapter, 
the unborn babe, up to the moment of 
birth, has been breathing through the 
medium of its mother. Until inflated 
by the first inspiration of the air of the 
world, the lungs are dense and almost 
solid in structure. The necessity for 
the blood being propelled to and from 
baby's lungs by the action of his own 
heart necessitates our furnishing him 
with an abundant supply of fresh air. 
Therefore his first requirement is well 
ventilated quarters. Not only should 
pure air be abundantly admitted to the 
room, but renewed continuously in or- 
der to replace that which becomes vi- 



BABY'S FIRST NEED 27 

tiated. If our babies are permitted to 
breathe a pure atmosphere from birth 
by day as well as night and are given 
sun baths, even though much of their 
time is spent indoors, they will grow and 
expand with all the strength and beauty 
of the things of the outdoor world. But 
even when we have gained a point in the 
direction of free ventilation, we have 
too often another popular barrier to 
break down, this being the erroneous im- 
pression that the lungs, through the me- 
dium of the mouth and nostrils, form the 
sole respiratory channel. Such, indeed, 
is far from correct. The entire surface 
of the skin has a most important part to 
perform in the respiratory economy. 
It is invariably and gravely hampered 
in its performance in two ways, first, by 
an overabundant supply of clothing, 
and, secondly, by lack of proper cleanli- 



28 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

ness. More babies have their health 
permanently impaired by being over- 
clad rather than underclad. 

A baby's garments should be free and 
unconfining so as to admit of ample ven- 
tilation. The fashion of long and volu- 
minous garments should be done away 
with entirely, for such are considered 
only secondary in their injurious effects 
to the torturing "pinning blankets" 
and abdominal bandages of bygone days. 
Give baby his natural food and fresh 
air without stint, for as compared with 
these all his other needs are as nothing. 
By so supplying him you will have laid 
the foundation for a healthy babyhood 
and a robust manhood. It need hardly 
be added that although we are using the 
masculine gender for baby, all that ap- 
plies to "him" applies to girl babies 
also. 



CHAPTER III 



Last night, my darling, as you slept, 

I thought I heard you sigh, 
And to your little crib I crept, 

And watched a space thereby; 
And then I stooped and kissed your brow, 

For oh ! I love you so — 
You are too young to know it now, 

But sometime you shall know. 

— Eugene Field. 

As baby is to spend the greater part 
of the time for the first few weeks of his 
life in slumber, for every healthy, happy 
youngster does so, the first thing is to 
provide a comfortable bed for his maj- 
esty and also a regular position for such. 

The reason I make special mention of 
a place for the bed is because of the un- 
fortunate habit that many a mother has 
29 



30 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

of laying baby down anywhere when he 
falls asleep. It may be on the foot of 
her own bed or on the sofa or indeed any 
comfortable-looking spot that presents 
itself at the moment, rather than dis- 
turb him, as she fancies, by carrying 
him to his own cot, even if it be ever so 
short a distance away. Now this habit 
cannot be condemned too strongly for 
many reasons, one of which is the break- 
ing through (be it ever so slightly) of 
the habits of order and regularity which 
should be established from earliest in- 
fancy, if baby is to be a source of com- 
fort to his parents. Then, too, baby's 
sleep will be more tranquil and refresh- 
ing in his own special bed than else- 
where at all times. So baby's bed, crib 
or bassinet should be placed in such a 
position that the light will come from 
behind it. If the little stranger hap- 



BABY'S BED 31 

pens to wake and lies quietly looking 
abont him, as any kealtky baby is apt to 
do, his eyes will therefore not be over- 
taxed by the light shining directly into 
them. Here again let me emphasize the 
fact that baby's sleeping apartment 
should never be shrouded in darkness, 
but from earliest infancy let him have 
a due proportion of light and an abund- 
ance of air. 

Though the dainty bassinet will ap- 
peal to most mothers with its filmy lace 
and ribbons, it is really not the most de- 
sirable resting place for baby, and can 
be of service for but a short time. For 
his little legs stretch amazingly fast, and 
so wisdom suggests that permanent 
quarters for him be procured from the 
beginning. Wooden cribs are most eco- 
nomical, if you have to consider the 
question from that point of view, but 



32 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

they are difficult to keep in good condi- 
tion. It is therefore well to purchase in 
the first instance a little iron or brass 
crib, which will do service for years. 
Over the bottom of such spread a sheet 
large enough to come well up over the 
sides, so that the mattress may be kept 
free from the dust that is constantly 
arising from the floor and seeking lodg- 
ment in its tabs and binding. This 
sheet can be brushed off quickly daily. 
The mattress should be of hair and 
never of feathers. As baby grows older 
a most comfortable one, known as the 
air mattress, or one made of new mown 
hay, may be used, but the former is de- 
nied to many on account of its expense 
and the latter not easily procured, so 
that the old reliable hair mattress may 
be considered most preferable after all. 
Baby's sheets should be made of cot- 



BABY'S BEB 33 

ton for the reason that they are health- 
ier, softer, more comfortable and infi- 
nitely warmer than those woven of linen 
and the wee mite needs the extra 
warmth. In regard to bed clothes, as 
well as to baby's entire wardrobe, it is 
better to have quantity rather than qual- 
ity. Insure him an abundant supply 
of fresh, sweet though cheap things, 
rather than skimp him for the sake of 
superior quality. Of course the moth- 
er's love will prompt her to procure the 
best within her means, but it is well to 
always remember that the little one's 
comfort and well being should never be 
taxed one iota for appearance's sake. 
Neither bed linen damp through acci- 
dent or body linen should be used a sec- 
ond time without being washed. The 
idea that airing with drying is all that is 
necessary is entirely wrong. We grown- 



34 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

ups would surely rebel agaiust such a 
method. Why, then, should we inflict it 
on a poor helpless baby, whose delicate 
skin will not tolerate it, but soon be- 
comes irritated and chafed. Daintiness 
in regard to her baby is an instinct of a 
true mother. 

To return to the mattress, it should be 
protected by a square of rubber sheet- 
ing beneath the lower sheet, while over 
this is placed a quilted square which can 
be purchased very reasonably and 
washes splendidly. The old habit of 
using a blanket or cheese cloth pad is 
not a good one, as the former becomes 
harsh through frequent washing, and 
the latter should be tabooed altogether, 
because it will not wash with its cotton 
wool filling, and is too apt to be dried 
and again used, a habit I cannot too 
strongly condemn. 



BABY'S BED 35 

Baby's pillows, and they should be 
quite tiny, may have dainty linen slips 
if such can be afforded; if not, cotton 
ones kept fresh and dainty suffice nicely. 
But, as with the sheets, have plenty of 
them, keeping a second pillow encased 
in a fresh slip in case of accident. If 
your love of the beautiful suggests em- 
broidery, I pray you confine such to the 
border, remembering that even the most 
daintily wrought monogram, or what 
not in the centre of a pillow, will be 
most distressing to the tender skin of 
the little one. 

A pair of baby blankets is the next 
thing required, and I would impress 
upon you the advisability of getting 
them large enough and light enough. 
The better ones are those made at home 
from a fine quality of blanketing, and 
bound with narrow wash ribbon. In 



36 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

this way you can best determine the 
proper size for your bed, having them 
neither large enough to be cumbersome, 
or yet so small as to be constantly slip- 
ping off the crib. Your little coverlid 
may be as pretty as you can devise so 
long as it is of light weight, for it is 
really more for ornament than for use. 



CHAPTER IV 

PREPARATIONS FOR SLEEP 

Just drop down the curtain of your dear eyes, 

Those eyes like a bright blue-bell, 
And we will sail out under starlit skies, 

To the land where fairies dwell. 
Down the river of sleep our bark will sweep, 

Till it reaches that mystical Isle 
Which no man hath seen, but where all have been, 

And there we shall pause a while. 
I will croon you a song as we float along 

To that shore that is blessed of God, 
Then ho ! for that fair land ; we're off for that rare 
land, 

That beautiful " Land of Nod! " 

— Ella Wheeler Wilcox. 

Having provided a comfortable bed 
for baby, let us consider the conditions 
under which he is to occupy it, realizing 
that for some months to come most of 
his time will be spent there. Indeed 
when not asleep, if cared for properly 
37 



38 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

and so being comfortable, lie will lie 
there crooning to himself for hours at a 
time when awake. He requires to be 
taken up only to be fed, bathed, or 
changed, or for those occasions inex- 
pressibly dear to every mother, when 
he is being shown to admiring friends, 
or when she herself is feasting her eyes 
on him. Remember I say this of every 
normal, healthy baby, and a baby can 
only be such when he is absolutely com- 
fortable, neither overclad nor overfed, 
frequently bathed and given fresh air in 
abundance. At such times as baby is 
not in his bed the latter should not re- 
main made up, but be opened with its 
clothes and mattress sunning and air- 
ing until again required. Bathing and 
feeding times afford ample opportunity 
for this purifying process. If baby's 
comfort is considered from the first as it 



PREPARATIONS 39 

should be, lie will soon learn to give a 
warning cry whenever he is wet. Then 
a quiet, tactful mother can make the 
needed change with so little disturbance 
to him that he will scarcely awaken or, 
if he does, will re-enter the Land of Nod 
forthwith. 

The little one 's best position for sleep 
is on his side, so that should there be 
the slightest regurgitation the clotted 
milk will not choke him, provided that 
he is not overfed. However, there is 
but little trouble to be feared in this di- 
rection. As already said, the child 
should not be too closely guarded from 
noises during sleeping hours, as such a 
method is likely to make him unduly 
sensitive to them. He will soon become 
accustomed to the ordinary sounds of 
the household, and will not be disturbed 
by them unless they be sudden, harsh or 



40 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

jarring, and these, in view of his deli- 
cate organism, should be carefully 
guarded against. 

The habit of rocking or indeed of lull- 
ing baby to sleep in one 's arms is a bad 
one. Rather accustom him to being put 
back in his crib after nursing, for his 
education has now begun, and what is 
done from the beginning will be ex- 
pected by the child later on. If baby is 
not sleepy he will enjoy lying in his crib 
kicking and wriggling, which is an ex- 
cellent thing for him, as it gives him 
just the exercise that his muscles need. 

It is much better to have a folded dia- 
per beneath him when sleeping than 
binding Mm up in excessively burden- 
some ones. After a very short time, 
when he shall have accustomed himself 
to regular habits, a watchful mother can 
anticipate his needs and by taking him 



PREPARATIONS 41 

up at the first sign of significant rest- 
lessness she will be rewarded by having 
that most enviable of all possessions, "a 
clean, sweet baby." 



CHAPTER V 
baby's bath 

Clear and cool, clear and cool, 
By laughing shallow, and dreaming pool; 
Undefiled for the undefiled — 
Play by ine, bathe in me, mother and child. 
— Charles Kingsley. 

Baby's daily bath should be a benefit 
and a pleasure alike to him. If ju- 
diciously given, it will not be long before 
it is sought by him almost as eagerly as 
his food. But judgment is required in 
this as in all other things pertaining 
to the child. For instance, it would be 
decidedly unwise to immerse baby in the 
first instance in a cold bath, although 
such a bath will be one of his greatest 
luxuries and benefits in later life, but 
42 



BABY'S BATH 43 

rather we must exercise that modera- 
tion that is necessary in everything per- 
taining to his care and well being. Not 
only do we need to gauge the tempera- 
ture of the water, but also that of the 
room in which the bath is given. The 
temperature of the latter should be at 
first from 80 to 85 degrees. Everything 
should be in readiness before beginning 
operations. Baby will have had break- 
fast with nap following, which will 
probably bring the time up to about ten 
a. m. The necessary preparations in- 
clude bath with water at temperature of 
about 90 degrees, a piece of best white 
castile soap, sponge or soft wash cloth, 
and towels, these last being preferably 
old ones, soft and worn. Then, too, we 
shall want boracic acid solution with 
which to wash baby's mouth and eyes, 
using a small bowl for this purpose and 



44 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

tiny pieces of soft old linen, and these 
last serve also for the dressing of the 
navel. The navel, however, will require 
this attention only for the first few days, 
when a little olive oil may be placed on 
the linen to prevent it from adhering to 
the clothing. Have ready also a glass of 
distilled water, a few spoonfuls of which 
will prove a refreshing drink to baby 
after his bath. Now, having donned 
your bathing apron, undress the wee 
one, snuggling him closely to you to. 
keep him warm. Having poured a lit- 
tle of the boracic solution into the bowl, 
put in it a few of the little scraps of 
linen and wash baby's eyes, always 
washing from the outer angle inward, 
being careful never to use the same 
scrap on both eyes. Next wash the lit- 
tle mouth in the same manner, after 
which baby will find a teaspoonful of 



BABY'S BATH 45 

water grateful. Now wash the face and 
head, after drying which, proceed to 
bathe one member at a time, neck, chest, 
arms, etc., always drying each as bathed 
to prevent chilling from exposing too 
much of the surface at once. This 
piece-meal mode of operation keeps the 
sensitive body comfortable throughout. 
When the entire body has been bathed, 
immerse baby gently in his bath for a 
second, so as to accustom him to the sen- 
sation, for after a very short time he 
should be put right in his bath tub 
rather than be bathed on his mother's 
knees. By lowering the temperature 
of the water daily and almost imper- 
ceptibly, in an amazingly short time 
baby will evidence his enjoyment of his 
practically cold tub by kicking, crowing 
and splashing, as soon as he is placed in 
it. As said before the dressing of the 



46 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

navel will only be required for the first 
few days. Just here I might allude to 
the many absurd stories one frequently 
hears of the necessity for extreme care 
in regard to this operation, and the need 
of firm compression and tight bandages 
in order to prevent a rupture or hernia. 
The truth is that one has no cause for 
fear in this direction unless baby is 
overfed to such an extent that his little 
stomach is distended to an abnormal de- 
gree, for, under normal conditions, the 
remnant of the cord will shrivel up and 
drop off as painlessly and uneventfully 
as does the cord of the young kitten. 
Lack of cleanliness or overfeeding are 
the only things that have to be guarded 
against. It is well to use a soft band, 
snug but not tight, to keep the compress 
from slipping during the time that the 
latter is necessary, but do not burden 



BABY'S BATH 47 

the baby with it a day longer than is 
necessary. 

Powder for baby following his bath 
is also another thing to be strongly con- 
demned, for if he be kept sweet and 
clean there is no necessity whatever for 
it, its only use or abuse, which last is the 
truer term, being to clog the pores of the 
body, which it is essential should be 
kept open for the sake of health. 
After baby's bath is over and before 
dressing him, accustom him to the lux- 
ury of a rub, which is especially grate- 
ful to his little back on which he spends 
so much of his time. Lay him across 
your knee and rub gently but firmly 
with your hand only, up and down the 
spinal column until it is suffused with a 
soft pink glow and baby will invariably 
stretch his little limbs as if asking for 
a rub in that direction as well. This 



48 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

mild form of friction bath accelerates 
the circulation and at the same time pro- 
vides a form of exercise which is as yet 
the only one he is ready for. Now dress 
him and he will be so comfortable and 
probably just fatigued enough to find 
his cot grateful. So will he drop to sleep 
almost as soon as his little head touches 
the pillow. 



CHAPTER VI 



The sunbeams hear his music, 

And they seek his little bed, 
And they dance their prettiest dance3 

Round his golden curly head; 
Schottisches, galops, minuets, 

Gavottes and waltzes, too, 
Dance they unto the music 

Of my googling " Goog-ly-Goo." 

— Eugene Field. 

In the preceding chapter I have 
incidentally mentioned the washing of 
baby's head as part of his morning ab- 
lutions, but it sometimes requires some 
special attention unless indeed baby is 
one of those fortunate ones whose skull 
is as smooth and free from blemish 
as are his little' cheeks. The principal 
cause, indeed I think I might say with 
49 



50 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

safety the only cause, of a yellowish 
deposit which is in evidence on some 
babies' heads is the "vernix caseosa," 
of which I have already spoken. Some 
children, however, have it only about the 
joints and the most fortunate ones are 
entirely free from it. The appearance 
of this matter on the head is mainly due 
to the fact that it has not been entirely 
removed by the application of the oil 
and first washing of the baby. There- 
fore, the head, where the faintest trace 
of the deposit is noticeable, should be 
liberally rubbed with oil which should be 
permitted to remain on for from four 
to five hours. Next wash thoroughly 
with warm water in which has been 
dissolved a teaspoonful of powdered 
borax. It will then be found that the 
" scurf" has entirely disappeared. Of 
course if baby's head is washed daily 



CARE OF BABY'S HAIR 51 

with the same care as any other part of 
the body, you need have no fear of a re- 
appearance of this annoying and un- 
pleasant accumulation. However, if 
there is the slightest neglect it will 
probably return, when the same pro- 
cess must be gone over again to the 
end of its removal. Never, under any 
circumstances, attempt to remove it 
with a comb, or scrape it off in any way, 
as in so doing there is great danger of 
injury to the head, or even the destruc- 
tion of the roots of the hair, which last 
damage can never be repaired. Remem- 
ber also that I recommend the use of 
borax only for the removal of the de- 
posit, for once baby's head is as clean as 
it should be, nothing but a little castile 
soap and plenty of warm water is re- 
quired to keep it so. 



CHAPTER VII 
baby's ears 

Those little ears, 
So quick to hear 

When daddy comes; 
For Baby knows 
He never goes 

Till play time's done. 

— Anon. 

Yet another part of baby's daily ab- 
lutions calls for special mention, and 
that is the cleansing and care of the 
ears. A certain amount of wax is re- 
quired by Nature as a safeguard for 
these delicate organs, yet an excessive 
accumulation of it is highly injurious to 
them. However, if proper care is taken 
of the ears from infancy no trouble 
need be anticipated in this direction. 
Those so-called ear sponges, that are 
52 



BABY'S EARS 53 

sold at the druggist's, are not recom- 
mended, as an infant's ear is very deli- 
cate and too great pressure brought to 
bear upon it may result in injury and 
even deafness. With adults these ap- 
pliances are more or less desirable. But 
in the case of the baby, however, I 
should advise the use of a piece of soft 
linen twisted in conical, corkscrew fash- 
ion, for the purpose of cleansing the 
ears, it being dipped in the warm suds 
of the bath, squeezed fairly free from 
water, gently inserted in the ear and 
turned around a few times, then use a 
dry cone of linen in like manner. You 
will thus keep the ears perfectly clean, 
without the slightest clanger of doing 
any injury to them. 

The outer ear can of course be cared 
for in the usual manner. 

When laying baby down be careful to 



54 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

see that the ears are flat against the head 
and not doubled over upon themselves. 
Many a boy and girl in later life is dis- 
tressed by two projecting and un- 
sightly appendages which are sugges- 
tive of the sails of a ship rather than a 
pair of ears, they being due to the slight 
precaution in question having been neg- 
lected in infancy. 



CHAPTER VIII 

CAEE OF BABY'S EYES 

Then she smooths the eyelids down 
Over those two eyes of brown — 

In such soothing, tender, wise, 
Cometh Lady Button-Eyes. 

It is not often that baby's eyes cause 
any anxiety, provided that parents and 
offspring are healthy. Yet there are in- 
stances where in some unknown way, 
and in spite of every precaution, baby's 
eye or eyes have become infected at the 
time of birth. Then it is that these, the 
most sensitive organs of the body, call 
for untiring attention, since permanent 
injury if not actual blindness frequent- 
ly results from lack of attention under 
such conditions. 

55 



56 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

Be the eyes ever so slightly affected, 
scrupulous and unceasing care must be 
lavished on them. 

In treating the eyes lay the baby on 
his side on the bed, placing a piece of ab- 
sorbent cotton over the nose so that the 
boracic acid solution which is to be 
used may not run from one eye to 
the other. Always wash from the outer 
angle of the eye inward toward the tear 
duct. Now separate the lids, opening 
the eye as far as possible, and drop in 
the solution with the aid of the eye- 
dropper, say three or four drops at a 
time, so that the fluid may suffuse the 
entire surface of the eye and run out 
on the absorbent cotton. This is a most 
delicate operation and remembering the 
sensitiveness of the eye, infinite care 
must be exercised in its performance. 
If both eyes be affected, baby, after the 



BABY'S EYES 57 

first has been treated, must be turned 
on his other side and the operation re- 
peated, while if only one eye is affected, 
every precaution should be taken that 
nothing that has been near it comes in 
contact with the other eye ; always being 
most careful that baby, when put to 
sleep, shall lie on the affected side. The 
absorbent cotton and linen scraps should 
be burned after each treatment. Con- 
stant care will soon effect a cure, and it 
is fortunately rare for the eyes to be- 
come affected after early infancy. In 
the case of any trouble with the eyes, 
however, the light should be moderated 
in baby 's room, and should always come 
from behind the bed, so as to prevent it 
from falling directly upon his face. 



CHAPTER IX 

HYGIENE OF BABY'S MOUTH 

As I hold my darling on my knee, 
And I'll say " I love yon " to you, 

And you say " I love you " to me ; 

Oh! many a strange, true thing we say 
And do, when we pretend to play! 

— Eugene Field. 

If baby has the food which Nature has 
provided for him, there is rarely any 
necessity for especial care of his mouth. 
Yet it is a wise plan as well as a simple 
precaution to wipe out the mouth each 
time that baby is nursed with a piece of 
linen dipped in some of the boracic acid 
solution. This tends to keep it sweet. 
But while this is not so necessary where 
a mother nurses her baby, it is certainly 
most desirable with a child that is fed 
58 



BABY'S MOUTH 59 

upon artificial food of any description. 
Such food not infrequently disagrees 
with the child, souring or regurgitating, 
so that it is well to have the mouth 
cleansed after each such feeding, other- 
wise it may become coated and ultimate- 
ly sore. Special directions are given in 
a following chapter as to the prepara- 
tion of artificial food, care of utensils 
used in such, etc., and if these are closely 
followed there is little or no trouble to 
be looked for from this source. 

Mention may be made here of the un- 
fortunate habit people have of kissing a 
baby on the mouth. It is a custom that 
should be strongly condemned, at least 
on the part of persons outside of one's 
immediate family. It is unsanitary to 
say the least of it, and yet the poor, wee 
helpless baby has to submit, being un- 
able to make any protest. If the lips 



60 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

become chapped ever so little from ex- 
posure to the sun or air, it is well to ap- 
ply a little pure olive oil to them. Put 
it on while he sleeps, when they will 
readily soften. Olive oil should be 
found in every nursery in preference to 
any preparations of cold cream or other 
emollients, for chafes, chaps and so 
forth. 



CHAPTER X 

THE IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING REGU- 
LAR HABITS IN EARLIEST INFANCY 

" If we have a time for everything, 
And fit each in its place, 
Lives won't be overcrowded 
And much worry we'll efface." 

Having given the subject of external 
cleanliness its meed of attention, let us 
now turn to that of internal cleanli- 
ness, which is in reality the far more 
important of the two. This cleansing 
process on Nature's part is the first func- 
tion to make itself manifest after the 
call for air and food. Such initial dis- 
charge, known as the meconium, is nor- 
mally of a tarlike color and consistency, 
and frees the bowels of offensive matter. 
61 



62 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

If baby is fed at regular intervals and 
not overfed, with proper care and 
watchfulness the regular evacuations 
can, from earliest infancy, be established 
with almost the same precision as the 
call for nourishment. Watchfulness in 
this direction therefore is speedily re- 
warded, and after a few short weeks 
soiled napkins will be practically un- 
heard of. Having noted the hour that 
baby's system usually frees itself, if he 
be held over his little " chair" for a few 
moments at the wonted time, a satisfac- 
tory evacuation from the bowels will 
take place. I know of a family of four 
children, the eldest twelve years of age, 
who, through these habits established in 
infancy, have a daily evacuation with 
the regularity of clockwork, and laxa- 
tives and medicines are things unknown 
to them. 



REGULARITY FOR BABY 63 

The matter of urination is not so eas- 
ily watched or controlled, but with care, 
and at two months after birth, a wet 
baby and damp beds should be things 
unheard of. Of course much depends 
upon the food of the mother as well as 
that of the baby, while any tendency to- 
ward constipation or over-relaxed 
bowels can be more easily regulated in 
the nursing child through the medium of 
the mother's diet than by any other 
means. Then again babies are rarely 
given enough water to drink, the suppo- 
sition being that with liquid food, water 
is not necessary. Now this is entirely 
wrong. Baby needs water quite as much 
as mother does. Fluid is constantly 
thrown off through the skin, kidneys, 
lungs, etc., so that water in plenty is 
quite as essential as food or air are. It 
is a good plan to give baby a drink at 



64 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

bathing time, again when he rouses 
from his nap in the morning, the same 
after his afternoon sleep, and before he 
is tucked away for the night. If these 
drinking times are established just as 
feeding hours are, they are not likely to 
be overlooked. 

Even with care and watchfulness, 
baby may become constipated, or he 
may possibly have an inherited ten- 
dency in that direction. But I beg you 
not to begin by dosing the baby with 
drugs and upsetting his stomach, and 
entailing general suffering on him. A 
very simple remedy for constipation, 
which is usually due to a clogging of the 
lower bowel, is to make a tiny suppos- 
itory of white castile soap, by cutting a 
piece in a conical shape, not larger in 
circumference at its largest part than a 
lead pencil, and laying the baby across 



REGULARITY FOR BABY 65 

your knee on his stomach, insert it 
gently into the rectum. Moisten the 
soap well before so doing, when it will 
slip gently past the anus, which is the 
muscle which guards the rectum, and 
after turning it around for a few mo- 
ments, peristalsis or activity of the bow- 
els will be excited and an evacuation will 
take place. If there be a marked ten- 
dency toward constipation, it is well to 
knead baby's bowels for a few minutes 
daily just before he is bathed. This will 
frequently provoke a movement of the 
bowels, but should they still prove obsti- 
nate, however, a teaspoonful of warm 
olive oil or glycerine injected into the 
rectum by means of a soft rubber cathe- 
ter attached to a tiny rubber syringe 
(one omice ones can be procured of any 
druggist at trifling cost) will prove most 
effectual. As baby gets older, should 



66 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

the trouble persist in spite of diet and 
exercise, an injection of warm water 
will usually be found efficacious, though 
such will hardly be needed if proper 
care is taken of the mother's diet or of 
baby's food if it be artificial. Daily 
exercise and kneading of the bowels and 
abdomen must be observed in addition. 
In any event, the early establishing of 
regular habits in the direction indicated 
is of infinite value, bringing with them 
health and happiness to both mother 
and babe. 



CHAPTER XI 

baby's wardrobe 

"When thou thyself, a watery, pulpy, slobbery 
freshman, and newcomer in the Planet, sattest mul- 
ing and puking in thy nurse's arms, sucking thy 
coral, and looking forth into the world in the blank- 
est manner, what hadst thou been without thy 
blankets and bibs and other nameless hulls ; a terror 
to thyself and mankind." — Carlyle in "Sartor 
Resartus." 

The proper care of baby's birthday 
clothes having been provided for, we 
must next turn our attention to "His 
Majesty's" wardrobe, first impressing 
upon every mother the fact that more 
infants are injured and hampered in 
the days of their early development by 
an excessive amount of clothing rather 
than by the lack of it. The old idea 
67 



68 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

that the baby should first of all be in- 
cased in a veritable straight jacket, as 
that form of infant torture, the abdom- 
inal band, most surely was, has been ex- 
ploded, for the danger of rupture 
at the navel has been proven to be 
far more likely when the muscles of the 
abdomen are robbed of their power to 
develop and strengthen by restricting 
them. The only band that is required 
to be about the baby's body should be 
just close enough to hold in place the 
tiny compress with which the navel is 
dressed. As before stated, the princi- 
pal, I may almost say the only cause of 
umbilical hernia, is undue distension of 
the abdomen, the result of overfeeding. 
The band in question is made of fine, 
soft flannel that should have the edges 
raw or pinked, but never hemmed or 
fancy stitched, as this tends to make the 



BABY'S WARDROBE 69 

edges tighter than the centre, and thus 
most uncomfortable to baby's sensitive 
flesh. It ought to be about six inches in 
width and eighteen in length, and as in- 
timated, be put on only snugly enough 
to keep the compress with the dressing 
for the navel in jDOsition. It should not 
be used longer than for the few days 
that the remnant of the cord requires to 
dry up and disappear and the surround- 
ing surface to heal normally. 

Next come the napkins. The mate- 
rial for such ought to be procured weeks 
in advance, and having been thoroughly 
washed in order to free it from the 
dressing that is found in all new fabrics, 
should be placed out on the grass, 
sprinkled occasionally with water, and 
under the effects of the sun and air will 
soon become comparatively soft and 
suitable to come in contact with baby's 



70 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

delicate skin. Napkins should not be 
made very large, as they are hot and un- 
comfortable, and are liable to promote 
that affliction commonly known as "bow 
legs" by their pressure on the little 
one 's soft leg bones. 

Baby's shirts are best made of a mix- 
ture of silk and wool, or linen and wool, 
as these keep in a much nicer condition 
when washed constantly than those 
made of all wool. They are also better 
for the very young baby if buttoned all 
the way down the front with small linen 
buttons and a narrow facing flap, rather 
than if they have an opening at the 
neck, as the latter are uncomfortable in 
the putting on and taking off for baby, 
and troublesome for the dresser. If 
the shirts are made with a flap at the 
bottom both back and front on which 
to secure the diaper, they will keep 



BABY'S WARDROBE 71 

down snugly and prevent the slipping 
away at the w T aist of the napkin. 

Next to be considered is the flannel 
princesse skirt, then one thin petticoat, 
and finally the dainty nainsook dress or 
slip. Fortunately in this day of ours, 
the Barry coat and pinning blankets are 
done away with by sensible people, as 
are the long, cumbersome skirts of for- 
mer times. So that with only enough 
clothing for warmth, which at the same 
time admits of free ventilation and un- 
restricted use of limbs, baby is free to 
kick, grow and expand from his earliest 
days, as is his just right. Also having 
his little skirts and slip made in this 
manner (princesse pattern) rather than 
on a tight waist, as formerly, all the 
weight is suspended from the shoulders. 
A few tiny sacques and a light flannel 
dressing gown are well to have in re- 



72 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

serve when extra warmth is required, 
but baby should never be burdened with 
a featherweight more of clothing than 
is necessary for comfort. Remember I 
have here only suggested the needful 
garments for baby's wardrobe. The 
innumerable and delightful, "etc.," will 
doubtless be added by the hands of a 
loving mother and admiring friends 
and relatives, these supplying baby's al- 
leged needs in a plentiful fashion. One 
thing to be borne in mind is this : if one's 
resources are limited, let baby have a 
sufficient supply of simple clothing 
rather than an inadequate quantity of 
those of elaborate texture or expensive 
workmanship. 

Baby's things cannot be of too deli- 
cate a fabric, for nothing is too dainty 
for the little bundle of sweetness. Yet 
a fresh, wholesome, clean baby in plain, 



BABY'S WARDROBE 73 

inexpensive garments is infinitely pref- 
erable to one in soiled or mussy finery. 
Never sacrifice baby's comfort by a sin- 
gle iota for the empty satisfaction of 
mere appearance. Baby's night gowns 
should be of the very simplest pattern 
and not sufficiently long to hamper his 
movements in the slightest, while his lit- 
tle flannel robe or dressing gown of the 
same length, which opens down the en- 
tire front for comfort in adjustment, is 
indispensable to slip on when he is lifted 
from the snugness and warmth of his 
cosy bed. 



CHAPTER XII 

THE EXTENT OF BABY'S WARDROBE 

Little Miss Brag has much to say 
To the rich " little lady " from over the way ; 
And the rich little lady puts out a lip 
As she looks at her own white, dainty slip, 
And wishes that she could wear a gown 
As pretty as gingham of faded brown; 
For little Miss Brag she lays much stress 
On the privileges of a gingham dress. 

— Eugene Field. 

It is a most difficult matter to form 
an adequate estimate of the extent or 
probable cost of baby's outfit. Suffice 
it to say that a mother's affection will 
prompt her to provide the very dain- 
tiest and best that her purse will admit 
of her so doing. In the matter of cloth- 
ing, as in other things pertaining to the 
child, health and comfort must be the 
74 



BABY'S WARDROBE 75 

first, indeed the all-important consider- 
ation, and if needs be, a mother's love 
for the beautiful should be sacrificed to 
her baby's well being. How unwise for 
a mother to harass herself in the slight- 
est to provide that which is not within 
reach of her means. Better, far better, 
to have baby supplied with simple, 
fresh clothing than that he be skimped 
to gratify a desire for delicacy of tex- 
ture or design, or too often, alas! for 
display. 

Most of us have seen time and again, 
a tiny infant far from clean and sweet, 
yet with voluminous lace-bedecked 
robes, whose very condition bespoke the 
lack of a change which the poor, foolish 
parent's love of finery had robbed her 
of the means to provide. 

In short, one should endeavor to have 
a sufficient quantity of clothes on hand 



76 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

to insure baby being always fresh and 
sweet. I consider the following articles 
necessary to baby's comfort : 

3 flannel bands, the flannel that is 
mixed with cotton being preferable, as 
it does not shrink or thicken as do the 
all-wool materials. 

3 flannel skirts, all of the above qual- 
ity. 

3 nainsook skirts. 

3 nightdresses. 

6 dresses or slips. 

2 pieces of cotton diapering. 

3 pieces of linen diapering. 

1 dressing gown or slumber robe. 

6 little shirts. 

Of course with so small a wardrobe 
as the above, frequent laundering is 
necessary, but if one's means are 
limited one can manage nicely with the 
foregoing. If, however, one is not re- 



BABY'S WABDROBE 77 

stricted financially a more bountiful 
supply of each, as well as dainty 
jackets, bootees, and many little com- 
forts, will readily suggest themselves. 
I have only enumerated the " needfuls," 
not the " delightfuls, " of baby's ward- 
robe. 

Baby's basket affords many delightful 
hours' work, if one has the time to 
spend on it, and rewards the mother 
amply. The basket is much prettier 
when lined in one's favorite color, with 
a dotted Swiss over it. The old fancy 
of "pink for a girl" and "blue for a 
boy" is still a pretty tradition, yet I 
think the daintiest baskets I have ever 
seen have been entirely of white, which 
looks new each time that it is washed. 
Too often those lined with colored silks 
fade, and thus lose much of their pretti- 
ness. As to the fittings for the basket, 



78 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

there is a wide diversity of choice and 
opinion. For the mother of limited 
means, everything needful is provided 
in celluloid and very dainty and pretty 
such articles are, these including brush, 
oil or vaseline jar, tray, pin box, soap 
box, needle-case, etc. These are pro- 
curable in white or colors, while for 
those who are not restricted, such sets 
come in sterling silver, tortoise shell and 
ivory, either of the latter being prefer- 
able to the silver, which readily becomes 
discolored by atmospheric influences. 
The dainty bassinet, which comes under 
the heading of luxuries rather than 
necessities, should correspond in color 
with the basket. Indeed, the entire fit- 
tings of the nursery may be had in col- 
ors that harmonize, but of this side of 
the subject I will treat more fully else- 
where. 



CHAPTER XIII 

baby's clothing comfortably adjusted 

'Tis comfort we crave, 
Oh! make not a slave 
To custom, our baby. 

As before stated baby's band is not to 
be considered as an article of bis ward- 
robe proper, but only just a means of 
protection for the navel, and to hold the 
little compress in place for the few days 
required by Nature to dispose of the 
remnant of the cord. It is not as some 
imagine, intended to prevent hernia or 
any abnormal distension. However, 
since we shall use the band for a few 
days, we must see that it is comfort- 
ably adjusted, being neither too tight 
79 



80 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

that it may cause discomfort or so loose 
as to roll up uuder baby's arms, or down 
on his little legs, and thus do away with 
its usefulness, but just snug enough to 
hold the compress in place. Never use 
pins as a means of fastening the band 
under any circumstances. 

There are, by the way, but two pins 
allowable on any properly dressed baby, 
and these are the large safety pins re- 
quired for the diaper. The proper way 
to fasten the band is by stitching it up 
the side with needle and thread, as but- 
tons, be they ever so tiny, or tapes even, 
should never come in close contact with 
baby's sensitive skin. Of course on the 
looser clothing small sized linen buttons 
may be used, and if preferred, tiny pearl 
ones may fasten the little dress or slip. 
But for a very young baby, linen buttons 
used throughout are certainly the wiser, 



COMFORTABLY CLOTHED 81 

and only comfortable means of adjust- 
ment. None of baby 's garments should 
be made of sufficient length to hamper 
his movements, but just short enough 
and of sufficient fullness to let him kick 
his little legs and arms at will. His 
other clothing, if made roomy enough, 
and after a princesse pattern where all 
the weight comes upon the shoulders, 
will add to his comfort and good temper. 

The delectable morsel of humanity 
here pictured is Miss Beacham of Co- 
lumbus, Pa., and the words of the 
mother, that follow, should be a perma- 
nent reminder to other mothers that 
when the season permits, baby will much 
prefer not to have any wardrobe at all, 
revelling in the fact that its little body 
is entirely free from trammel and dress. 

What a world this would be if every 
baby in it was as healthy, wholesome 



82 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

and happy as this one evidently is! 
And what a world such children would 
bring into being when they, in turn, took 
up the duties of parentage on the same 
lines as did their fathers and mothers! 




Baby Beacham, age 11% mos. 

This is what the proud mamma of 
Baby Beacham has to say in writing to 
me about her : 



COMFORTABLY CLOTHED 83 

"She is eleven and a half months old. 
We are rearing her according to natural 
methods. When it is very warm she 
does not wear any clothes except her 
diapers, and being so accustomed to 
freedom in this respect she don't like it 
very much when I put them on her. 
There are some people who think it ter- 
rible that I dress her the way described. 
I know if more people would dress their 
children as I do, there would be many 
more healthier and happier children 
than there now are." 



CHAPTER XIV 

baby's foot geak 

" To the ear of the mother, what sound more sweet 
Than the tottering patter of baby's feet ? " 

The less that baby wears upon his 
feet the healthier and happier he will be. 
In warm weather he is decidedly more 
comfortable and better off as far as his 
health generally is concerned without 
any foot covering whatever. At no sea- 
son of the year should his feet be 
cramped or hampered by heavy stock- 
ings or shoes. Socks are in every way 
preferable to stockings and those of 
open mesh decidedly so, but you must 
be careful to have them roomy enough. 
A perfect foot beyond the age of in- 
84 



BABY'S FOOT GEAR 85 

fancy is difficult to find. This is a con- 
sequence of the feet of civilized human- 
ity being distorted in early life. 

Fortunately for the future of a good 
many of the race, that most sensible 
form of foot gear, the sandal, is not de- 
nied baby. And they are so inexpen- 
sive and simple of make as to place them 
within the reach of every mother. 

The sandals can be knitted of silk or 
wool, or they may be made of cloth, 
chamois or kid as desired. Each and 
all of them are inexpensive. 

An advantage, and it is a very great 
one, of the first named materials over 
the kid are that they wash. Yet the kid 
can be readily cleaned at home at trifling 
cost, and sandals made of it are certain- 
ly extremely pretty. 

An ounce of wool will be ample to knit 
or crochet a pair, a single, small sized, 



86 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

trimmed chamois skin is more than suf- 
ficient for a pair. Pieces of woolen ma- 
terial may be utilized for the others, 
but it is impossible to give the exact 
amount of goods needed for these last 
as they vary so much in width. 

In addition to his sandals it would be 
well to supply baby with knee shields 
when his creeping days have come which 
are extremely simple in design and 
make, and for which the remnants from 
the sandals may be utilized. 

In making sandals, use no pattern for 
the sole other than the outline of the 
child's foot. By following this plan 
they will conform to the shape of the 
foot rather than the latter having to ac- 
commodate itself to that of the sandal, 
regardless of comfort or the future con- 
tour of the member. The toe cap should 
be loose and roomy, and the instep strap 



BABY'S FOOT GEAR 87 

ample in length. In adjusting the lat- 
ter, wrought eyelets, ribbons, silk lacing, 
or tape should be used, rather than but- 
tons, or buckles, so as to allow for 
shrinkage in washing, and to assure ease 
at all times. The knitted or crocheted 
sandals may be finished with a corre- 
sponding edge, while those of woollen, 
and kid may be bound with tape or 
wash-ribbon as desired. 



CHAPTER XV 

baby's nursery 

It makes us all feel good to have a baby 

on the place, 
With his everlastin' crowing and his dimpling 

dumpling face; 
The patter of his pinky feet makes music 

everywhere, 
And when he shakes those fists of his, good-by 

to every care! 

— Eugene Field. 

Baby's nursery is his castle. As we 
hope a happy reign for him therein let 
us provide him a suitable environment. 
If the house is a small one there will not 
be much choice as to the location of Ms 
chamber, but nevertheless let the big 
folk give precedence to his little majesty 
and yield him the choicest spot in it. 

Light and air are essentials and if 
88 



BABY'S NURSERY 89 

possible a southern exposure, for al- 
though we hope that our model baby 
will have his daily outing, inclement 
weather or inability to have someone al- 
ways ready to take him for his airing, 
may necessitate his spending such times 
indoors. On these occasions, windows 
can be thrown wide open and baby's 
outdoor wraps put on him and he will 
derive almost the same benefit from the 
arrangement as though he had not been 
denied his outing proper. Of course 
when he is old enough to toddle about, 
he will enjoy doing so a thousand times 
more than when cooped up in his crib or 
carriage. 

The nursery should never be car- 
peted, but rather have a hardwood or 
painted floor, linoleum, or cocoa mat- 
ting, upon which may be a rug or square 
of carpet, this latter being removed 



90 HEALTH FOE BABIES 

daily to be brushed or shaken. The 
nursery thus sanitarily equrpped can 
have its floor washed daily or brushed 
and baby is thus saved from breathing 
the dust laden air continually, which is 
inevitably the case, where the floor is 
carpeted. The only hangings in the 
rooms should be of wash material, 
preferably muslin. In reality the ideal 
nursery should have no curtains at all 
to catch and retain the dust, but rather 
inside blinds, the slats of which will aid 
in regulating the ventilation, as well as 
in moderating the power of the sun's 
rays when required. However, this 
last can be managed nicely even if one's 
house has not lattice blinds, by having 
on each window, two glazed linen closed 
curtains, one of which is white, the 
other green, and by their aid the light 
can be adjusted perfectly. The win- 



BABY'S NURSERY 91 

dows should at no time be tightly closed, 
either by night or day. Probably one 
of the most excellent modes of establish- 
ing perfect, continuous ventilation, is 
that described by C. E. Page, M. D., in 
his work "How to Feed the Baby, with 
Health Hints," from which I quote : 

"The true theory of ventilation is to 
obtain a perpetual and sufficient change 
of air without sensible draught. The 
following simple plan as I have proved 
by years of experience, perfectly ful- 
fills these requirements, and leaves 
nothing to be desired. The Scientific 
American endorses the plan, and places 
it above many, in fact most, of the elab- 
orate and expensive devices. A three- 
inch strip placed beneath the lower sash 
of each window has the effect to "mis- 
match" the sashes, causing them to 
overlap each other in the middle. The 



92 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

stream of air thus admitted is thrown 
directly upward, and slowly mixes with 
the heated air in the upper part of the 
room. As several windows in each 
room are thus provided, the vitiated air 
is constantly passing out at one or an- 
other of the ventilators. The strip be- 
ing perfectly fitted or listed, no air can 
enter at the sill, and all can be so nice- 
ly finished as in no manner to mar the 
appearance of the most elegant draw- 
ing room. A dwelling thus ventilated 
will never smell " close" to the most 
sensitive nose upon entering it even 
after a prolonged stay in the open air, 
a test that would condemn as unfit for 
occupancy, ninety in the hundred sit- 
ting and sleeping rooms, as well as 
churches, halls, etc., the world over." 

Next as to the nursery furnishings. 
It is not well to have any more in the 



BABY'S NURSERY 93 

room than is necessary for comfort and 
convenience. The following would 
suggest themselves: Baby's bed, and 
the bed of nurse or mother which, how- 
ever, had much better be placed in an 
adjoining room. Bureau, table, and 
low washstand with fittings, also a nur- 
sery chair. These are the essentials, 
while the desired adornment must be 
left entirely to individual taste. But 
I would suggest that with the exception 
of a few suitable pictures, the artistic 
side need not be strongly emphasized in 
these early days, as a multiplicity of 
things only serves to collect dust, and 
the time and care they require are bet- 
ter bestowed upon baby than on the 
superfluous things in his quarters. As 
he begins to grow older, Lilliputian fur- 
nishings may be added, and the more at- 
tractive side of his surroundings should 



94 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

receive their meed of attention. Baby's 
daily outing furnishes an opportune 
time to throw open the windows of the 
nursery and with his little bed opened 
out also, the room is virtually turned in- 
side out for his benefit and its refresh- 
ment. The rocking chair, or cradle, 
should find no place in a well regulated 
nursery, for both are conducive to bad 
habits that baby should never acquire. 



CHAPTER XVI 
baby's natural food 

It's when the birds go piping 

and the daylight slowly breaks, 
That, clamoring for his dinner, our 

precious Baby wakes; 
Then it's sleep no more for Baby, and 

it's sleep no more for me, 
For when he wants his dinner, why, 

it's dinner it must be. 

— Eugene Field. 

It is only when fed from the fount 
which Nature supplies, that baby re- 
ceives nourishment that is suited to 
each and all of his needs, provided that 
the mother is in a normally healthy con- 
dition. A fact to be much deplored is 
that there are those bearing the name 
of mother who refuse to suckle their 
offspring, for no apparent reason 
95 



96 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

whatever. We cannot but feel that 
there is something radically wrong with 
women of this type. 

However, Nature has provided amply 
for the child born of normal parents, 
and it is such a child that we will first 
consider. 

When both mother and baby have 
rested sufficiently after the arrival of 
the latter, it is well that the little one 
should be given the breast forthwith as 
the first secretion therein acts upon the 
child as a purgative, the taking of 
which is usually followed within a 
few hours by a movement from its 
bowels, that is known as the mecon- 
ium. This secretion of the breast, for 
the first three days proves all that 
baby requires, unless it be an occasional 
spoonful of distilled water. It is to be 
hoped that in this allegedly enlightened 



BABY'S NATURAL FOOD 97 

age no intelligent mother or nurse will 
permit of baby's being dosed with teas 
of various kinds, or fluids of any de- 
scription, under the belief that more 
nourishment is required than Nature has 
provided. If Nature be permitted she 
will perform her work aright and fully. 
The supply of true milk comes upon the 
third day, and is usually accompanied 
with a sense of fullness and uneasiness 
on the part of the mother, when for her 
comfort it is well that baby should 
nurse at once and thus afford her relief. 
From this period on to at least the 
ninth month, this natural food should 
constitute baby's sole diet. As regards 
the number of feedings, authorities dif- 
fer widely, but the almost universal 
opinion of physicians is that babies are 
all overfed. The trouble is to have 
them fed, not often enough, but seldom 



98 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

enough. Dr. C. E. Page, in his book 
on "How to Feed the Baby," says: 

"It is my belief, verified by ex- 
perience in the case of my own infant, 
and from other substantial proofs, that 
three meals a day, with sufficient re- 
striction at each, are all that should be 
permitted from birth, and the intervals 
should be at least five or six hours be- 
tween meals. If care be taken to guard 
against overfeeding at either of the 
meals, it is believed that the following 
high standard will usually be attained, 
viz., ease and comfort through the day 
and perfect rest at night ; freedom from 
hiccough, vomiting, constipation, colds, 
and diarrhoea. There will be a steady 
gain in weight from month month, by 
reason of healthy growth, without the 
abnormal accumulation of fat so surely 
indicative of disease." 



BABY'S NATURAL FOOD 99 

After nine months, if the baby is nor- 
mally healthy, it is well to begin the 
weaning process, so that it may be 
gradual and thus be made easy for both 
mother and babe. The new diet of the 
baby should be in the form of cow's 
milk, given for the midday meal from a 
bottle rather than the intermediate 
nursing. 

If the baby declines it, it is best to 
give nothing more until he becomes 
hungry enough to take it without de- 
murring. Then proceed to gradually 
increase the quantity of cow's milk, 
simultaneously shortening the nursing 
periods from the breast, until weaning 
is accomplished. 

Cows' milk when first drawn is best, 
if obtainable. Otherwise care should be 
taken to have the milk slightly warmed 
so that it may be of the temperature of 



LofC. 



100 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

new milk. In changing from the breast 
to cow's milk, it must be remembered 
that as the latter is heavier, more solid, 
and therefore more difficult to digest, 
one must guard during the change 
against overfeeding. 

"When the mouth bristles well with 
teeth, allow a little 'chewable' bread, 
best made from unsifted whole wheat 
meal (honest Graham). Give it dry, 
and also begin the use of fruit. After 
the dry bread is eaten then offer the bot- 
tle. Increase the bread and fruit ra- 
tion gradually. I would strongly rec- 
ommend the continued use of the bottle 
so long as milk forms any part of the 
child's diet. In no other way will he 
take it slowly enough to prevent flood- 
ing the stomach, and consequent indi- 
gestion. All milk eating creatures are 



BABY'S NATURAL FOOD 101 

and should ever be sucklings. At least 
milk should never be drank like water. 
Finally, of one thing we may rest as- 
sured; when weaning time comes no 
child will suffer himself to become hun- 
gry, i. e., he will never refuse food, to 
his hurt. ' ' 

When finally weaned, baby's diet 
may be varied, but should consist large- 
ly of such things as whole wheat bread, 
mush, cracked wheat, hominy and 
fruits, such as apples, prunes, pears, 
etc., later on adding simple puddings, 
as rice, tapioca, sago, etc. 



CHAPTER XVII 

THE PREPARATION OF SUBSTITUTES 

A bottle tree bloometh in " Winkyway " land, 

Heigh-ho for a bottle, I say ; 
A snug little birth in that ship I demand 

That rocketh the bottle-tree Babies away 
Where the bottle tree bloometh by night and by 
day, 

And reacheth its fruit to each wee dimpled hand ; 
You take of that fruit as much as you list, 

For colic's a nuisance that does not exist ; 
So cuddle me close and cuddle me fast, 

And cuddle me snug in my cradle away ; 
For I hunger and thirst for that precious repast, 

Heigh-ho for a bottle, I say. 

— Eugene Field. 

If the mother is from any cause unable 
or unwilling to nurse her child, the sub- 
ject of artificial food and its prepara- 
tion is a vastly important one. It is to 
be deplored that a baby must be forced 
to take a substitute for its natural food 
anyhow, but if the necessity arises, ex- 
102 



AETIFICIAL FOODS 103 

quisite care and attention are called for 
if baby is to be properly nourished. In 
the first place, the bottles, nipples, and 
utensils, used in the preparation of the 
food, must be kept solely for that pur- 
pose. After usage they should be at once 
washed and rinsed in a solution of 
borax and water, then placed on the 
stove in cold water, heated slowly and 
boiled for twenty minutes. Then hav- 
ing the fresh food in readiness, let the 
bottles cool sufficiently, fill, cork with 
absorbent cotton and set away in a cool 
place until needed. As regards the 
food itself, authorities differ vastly, but 
the endeavor of the manufacturers has 
always been to make the substitute as 
nearly akin to mother's milk as possi- 
ble. 

For those who can afford it probably 
the best substitute is that supplied by 



104 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

the Walker Gordon Laboratories where 
the utmost care is taken to have the 
cows' stables, and milkers scrupulously 
clean, and where the preparation of the 
food itself is approved by the highest 
medical authorities. In some cases the 
physician sends the formula he wishes 
used to these same laboratories, and 
so has the food specially prepared. 
Branches of the laboratories are to be 
found all over the country and great 
pains are taken in expressing the food, 
already bottled for nursing, within rea- 
sonable distances. 

Of course the one great objection to 
this method is the expense incurred. 
Besides that, most mothers will take de- 
light in preparing the food at home, 
and again, many do not care to entrust 
it to other hands, unless they be those 
of an experienced trained nurse. 



ARTIFICIAL FOODS 105 

"No definite rule can be given for the 
amount of milk necessary for a hand- 
fed baby at any given age. It will not 
vary much from one pint per day for 
an infant of six months. This amount 
divided into three meals, say at 6 a. m., 
12 m. and 6 p. m., has in my experience 
always insured the best results. The 
whole night should be devoted to sleep, 
and a child that is properly nourished 
— if not overfed during the day — will 
sleep soundly all night. Nor should an 
infant be awakened for food during the 
daytime merely because it is 'time/ 
even if it skips a meal occasionally, 

"The approximate amount of cows' 
milk for each meal for an infant at the 
age of nine months, is about one cup- 
ful. Very rich milk will often disagree 
with infants, and is less wholesome for 
all than pure milk containing a medium 



106 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

proportion of fat. As to the best mode 
of preparation I adopt the language of 
Prof. S. P. Sharpies, who has, more 
than any other man in New England, if 
not in America, made the subject of 
milk a special study, and has made hun- 
dreds of analyses of the fluid: 

' ' ' The best way to prepare cows ' milk 
for a young child is to allow it to stand 
for a few hours until a portion of the 
cream has raised ; then carefully remove 
the cream. At each meal take the 
proper portion, say for a babe at nine 
months, one cup ; at twelve months, one 
and one-third; at fifteen months, per- 
haps one and one-half; or vary the 
quantity at different meals, as, more in 
the morning, less at noon, and at night, 
as experiment may prove best. No 
hard and fast rule, except as to number 
of meals, can be laid down for the mil- 



ARTIFICIAL FOODS 107 

lion. Place the vessel containing the 
portion in a dish of hot water for a suf- 
ficient time to warm it. Cream or very 
rich milk is totally unfit for an infant. 
Children will be found generally to do 
well on Ayrshire milk, since this is not 
much richer than skimmed Jersey. 

" 'Above all, do not add cane sugar or 
water to milk. The cane sugar is al- 
most certain to sour the stomach, while 
water reduces the amount of flesh-form- 
ing constituents in the nrilk and dis- 
tends the child's stomach with an un- 
necessary amount of fluid/ " — Chas. E. 
Page, H. D. 

I do not think that it is necessary for 
a mother to go further for instruction 
than such authorities as the foregoing 
who, by years of research and study, 
have solved this problem of artificial 
feeding. 



CHAPTER XVIII 
baby's daily outing 

When our Babe he goeth walking in his garden, 
Around his tinkling feet the sunbeams play ; 

And posies they are good to him, 
And bow them as they should to him, 
As fareth he upon his kingly way; 
And birdlings of the wood to him 

Make music, gentle music, all the day, 
When our Babe he goeth walking in his garden. 
— Eugene Field. 

From earliest infancy baby's daily 
outing should be considered as of no 
less importance than food, sleep, or 
bathing. Regularity should if possi- 
ble be observed also with regard to it, 
unless unpropitious weather prevents, 
in which instance, the throwing open of 
the nursery windows, and the donning 
of baby's wraps, as if he were going out 
108 



BABY'S DAILY OUTING 109 

in reality, forms the best substitute pos- 
sible. If baby's daily outing is observed 
at regular hours as are his feeding, bath- 
ing, sleeping, and so forth, infinite com- 
fort will result to both mother and child. 

The best time for the morning airing 
is anywhere from half past ten until the 
noon hour when the needed warmth and 
sunshine can be obtained. After he 
has breakfasted, napped, and bathed, 
he is ready to enjoy his outing, and 
when it is over he will be ready to take 
his midday meal, with a keen relish, 
such as no little one can possibly know 
who is cooped indoors from morning 
until night. 

Indeed, it is well, if it can be so ar- 
ranged, that the airing is repeated in 
the afternoon ; in fact, baby should live 
in the open air as much as possible. In 
the city, or in cases where the sole care 



110 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

of the infant devolves upon a mother 
who has her household duties to attend 
to in addition, it is not an easy matter 
to always do this, but she should sac- 
rifice other things for this all important 
duty, as the good accruing from it to her 
offspring will repay her a thousandfold. 
If the home has a veranda or balcony, 
the child should practically live out of 
doors when the weather permits, so will 
he grow and thrive at an amazing rate. 
The poor, white, puny babies that we 
see so constantly are the results of air 
starvation more than aught else. 



CHAPTER XIX 

TEETHIXG PEEIOD NEED NOT BE DREADED 

" And 'tis indeed a day for us, when through the 
coral gum, 
That baby's twin and tiny teeth, in whitest iv'ry 
come." 

It is impossible to set a definite time 
for the beginning or duration of the 
teething process for it varies greatly in 
the case of individual babies. Usually, 
baby's experience in this direction be- 
gins when he is about six months of age 
although in some instances, little ones 
have been known to cut their first tooth 
at four months and others as late as 
eleven months. These last, however, 
are greatly the exception. 
Ill 



112 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

The cutting of the teeth, although al- 
ways a somewhat trying experience for 
baby, is yet after all a natural process 
and therefore should not be anticipated 
with dread or anxiety, provided that 
he has had proper care, that hygienic 
laws having been observed, and that he 
has not been overfed so as to upset Ms 
digestive apparatus. 

The erroneous supposition that baby 
requires stronger food than milk at 
about this period and the putting of this 
theory into practice often leads to seri- 
ous trouble. Milk contains all the ele- 
ments necessary for the formation of 
teeth, and not until the mouth is fairly 
supplied with such, should any addi- 
tional food be given. 

"The food should continue to be 
breast milk where this is possible or, in 
lieu thereof, cows' milk mixed as recom- 



TEETHING PERIOD 113 

mended elsewhere, and upon no con- 
sideration should any farinaceous or 
starchy articles be added until the 
mouth bristles with teeth; then it may 
justly be considered that he can handle 
something of the adult diet." — Clias. E. 
Page, M. D. 

Regarding the dreaded sickness con- 
sequent upon teething, Dr. Dawson 
says: 

' ' If there was ever an absurd fallacy 
fastened upon the popular mind, it is, 
in my opinion, this bugbear of 'teething 
sickness. ' I have never seen such a 
case myself, and it is beyond my com- 
prehension why the Creator should af- 
flict only the young of man with an ab- 
normal physiological process dangerous 
to health and life. But, nevertheless, 
multitudes of infants are taken sick or 
die just at this period with gastro- 



114 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

intestinal disorders, and some cause 
there must be for it. 

" The latter is not hard to find. It is 
faulty alimentation, either prior to or, 
as is most generally the case, during the 
cutting of the teeth. 

"Some babies, indeed, under proper 
conditions we might say all babies, get 
their teeth early and in rapid succes- 
sion with little or no disturbance to 
them. Should there be restlessness or 
discomfort, however, a warm bath and, 
if the bowels be in any measure con- 
stipated, a rectal injection of warm 
water will afford infinite relief and 
comfort.' ' 

As has been said, mothers whose chil- 
dren are brought up hygienically and 
not overfed, have nothing to dread from 
the irritation and disturbance conse- 



TEETHING PERIOD 115 

quent on the coming of the teeth, which 
should appear in the following order : 

Two middle lower incisors, 

Two upper middle incisors, 

Two upperlateral incisors, 

Two upper front molars, 

Two lower lateral incisors, 

Two lower front molars, 

Two lower cuspids or stomach teeth, 

Two upper cuspids or eye teeth, 

Four second molars. 

There are deviations from this pro- 
cess, however, even in healthy babies. 
Teething usually continues up to the 
third year and distilled water should be 
given freely during this period. The 
teeth call for, yet reward care, and 
should receive scrupulous attention. 



CHAPTER XX 

AIR BATHS AND SUN" BATHS 

" Warm and rippling sunshine thrills me through 

and through, 
While tumbling about in the clear, fresh air keeps 

me happy, too." 

Having dwelt at some length in the 
preceding chapters on the efficacy of 
pure air, water and proper diet, all of 
which are requisites if baby is to be sup- 
plied with health-building elements, I 
now wish to call special attention to the 
incalculable benefits to be derived from 
the air bath, or better still the sun and 
air bath. If your environments permit 
of your being bountifully supplied 
with sunshine it will literally permeate 
your little one's being, and in due course 
116 



AIR AND SUN BATHS 117 

of time you will be the possessor of a 
baby with a "sunny disposition. " 
What mother has not remarked baby's 
unbounded delight when his clothes are 
removed, and he is permitted to revel 
in the sun, to stretch his unhampered 
limbs, while he kicks and crows with 
sheer joy. No better place for this air 
and sun bath can be found for the very 
young infant than mother 's bed, if it is 
a double one, with a good spring and 
mattress. On it, place a rubber sheet, 
covered with a cotton sheet pinned firm- 
ly down at the four corners. Thus pro- 
vided against accidents, and being en- 
tirely nude and not even hampered by 
a napkin, for be the latter ever so small 
and snug, it is bound to hinder his en- 
joyment to a greater or lesser degree, 
baby will begin a sunshine frolic. It 
is wise to let the fun take place in a well 



118 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

ventilated room with the windows 
closed, the temperature of the room be- 
ing from 80-85°. At first the sun bath 
should be of but a few moments' dura- 
tion, so that there is no fatigue conse- 
quent upon it. Increase the time daily. 
If the weather is mild, open the windows 
a trifle and enlarge the opened space 
daily until baby has unconsciously ac- 
quired the fresh air habit to which we 
sincerely hope he is to be an ardent dev- 
otee throughout his entire life. As he 
gets older, a mattress placed upon the 
floor, gives him still greater freedom, 
and admits of no danger of a fall. To 
outline any regular system of exercise 
or movements for a young infant in this 
connection would be scarcely necessary, 
since his kicking and tossing, absolutely 
free and unhampered, will suffice to keep 
him healthy. Froebel, the father of 



AIR AND SUN BATHS 119 

kindergarten, tells us that the first 
movement that should be taught baby 
is that one suggesting to him a free- 
dom of action, in much the way that 
the mother bird teaches her young, that 
is by gently thrusting them off at some 
safe height, to flutter gently through 
space and experience for the first time 
that joyous sensation of independence 
which is to be such a delight throughout 
life, and is the source from which man- 
hood and self-reliance spring. 

This may be effected by taking hold 
of baby's thumbs and raising him from 
his position on his back to a half sitting 
posture, then gently releasing your hold 
lie will drop back on the bed. At first 
he may exhibit astonishment, or alarm, 
or fear, or perhaps injured innocence, 
but yet after repeating the action 
several times, he will begin to beam with 



120 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

delight. Your bed having a good 
spring to it, he rebounds a bit at each 
drop, and the sensation affords him 
pleasure, as well as healthful exertion. 
In addition, his little arms, back and 
neck, are receiving individual benefit. 
Be careful, however, never to allow him 
to become wearied with his exertions, 
but give him only a few moments of the 
exercise to begin with. Later he will 
learn to anticipate and long for it, and 
in an amazingly short time he will, when 
lying unattended on his bed, exercise 
himself in an interesting and surpris- 
ing way. 

Baby will undoubtedly warm up with 
this play-work, but should he in some 
unaccountable way fail to do so, give 
him a good brisk rub for a minute or 
two before he dons his clothes, or is 
tucked to bed. The only time at which 



AIR AND SUN BATHS 121 

these exercises should not be given is 
just after he has been fed. 

An authority on infant hygiene 
speaks thus of the vast benefits to be 
derived from sun and air baths on the 
foregoing lines : 

"The advantage of playing in the 
field, in the woods, or at the seashore, is 
one which many children have to forego, 
but there is no reason why a child 
should have to dispense with all healthy 
enjoyable romping even though he lives 
in a crowded part of a great city. 
Under quite adverse conditions a child 
may be given healthy playtimes, which 
will compensate in a great measure for 
the out-door country life, which of 
course nothing can really equal." 

So, if you have not the wherewithal 
to leave the city during the summer, do 
not despair that your child must lack 



122 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

fresh air and a happy time. Wherever 
you live you can arrange things so that 
a child may have at least a few hours 
each day of healthy romping. If you 
are fortunate enough to live in a house, 
go to the attic, throw open the windows 
so that sunshine and fresh air may fill 
the room. If you are in a flat, roll the 
shades as high as possible and open the 
windows wide. Bring the little one in 
on a bright morning, and strip off all 
clothing; let the little body feel the 
fresh air and the sun's rays directly on 
the skin. If you have a dog, let the 
child romp with him to its heart con- 
tent. There is so much more real good 
to be gained from exercise which has a 
happy element of play in it than that 
which is taken in a perfunctory way. 
A child turned loose with a dog will ex- 
ercise every muscle of its body, while 



AIR AND SUN BATHS 123 

harboring no idea save that of having a 
jolly time. Let this play exercise be 
encouraged by mothers at all times. 

If grown people would only copy the 
spontaneity of youth; if they would 
only forget for a time the convention- 
ality that holds them down and keeps 
them from doing that which they are 
naturally prompted to do, they would 
win back much of the grace of child- 
hood. It is a remarkable fact that all 
the animals in the world, except the 
human kind, are more graceful in move- 
ment and beautiful in body when ma- 
ture than in early life, but with human 
beings there is less ease of movement 
and beauty of form in the full grown 
person than in the undeveloped child. 
In other words, we are educated away 
from, instead of towards, physical per- 
fection. 



124 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

Children who stay indoors a great 
deal are apt to be nervous and irritable. 
They have unpleasant dreams, they are 
troubled with indigestion, and perhaps 
have no appetite, and are not at any 
time the happy little mortals that Na- 
ture meant them to be. An air and sun 
bath combined with a romp will tend to 
correct this, and make even a little half- 
invalid, a rosy-cheeked, healthy, joyous 
youngster. 

The effect of sun-and-air-starvation 
on the nervous system is more marked 
than can well be described or explained. 
Probably, the hygienic effects of the in- 
tervention of clothing is much more 
marked than we realize. Anyway a free 
supply of light and air will relieve ner- 
vous tension when nothing else will. 
May we not suppose that the direct sun- 
shine which is quite necessary for the 



AIR AND SUN BATHS 125 

perfect growth of plants, is also neces- 
sary for the best development of human 
beings ? 

The further effect of air and sunshine 
on the human body is to stimulate the 
eliminating glands in the skin to nor- 
mal action, regulate circulation and 
give general tone and strength to the 
entire system. It also develops to nor- 
mality the nerve terminals in the 
skin which regulate the production of 
heat in the body. This wonderful heat 
generating function of the human body, 
provides that during changes in the 
temperature of the atmosphere, corre- 
sponding changes shall take place in the 
human body to prevent discomfort ; and 
it is only because we live in overheated 
houses, and wear too many clothes, that 
most people cannot comfortably endure 
changes in temperature. A child who 



126 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

is subject to colds and sore throat in 
fall, winter and spring, should be given 
careful attention in summer. The sys- 
tem may be put in such condition by 
these sun and air baths that a perfect 
response to changes in temperature is 
induced. Then there need be no fear 
of colds for the child who plays out-of- 
doors all the year round in all kinds of 
weather. 

The great value of the air-bath is 
now beginning to be recognized by par- 
ents who are giving thought to the 
health and strength of their offspring. 
If introduced into the daily life of the 
child, no matter at what period, it will 
promote a strong, firm skin, capable of 
withstanding sudden changes of temper- 
ature from one year's end to the other. 
Marion Evelyn Cook, whose photograph 
appears at the end of this chapter, is a 



AIR AND SUN BATHS 127 

splendid instance of the great benefit a 
child may receive from this bath. She 
receives her air-bath daily, without ex- 
ception, and enjoys the treat, for it is 
a thorough treat to a child. At 6 p. m. 
her clothes are removed and for an hour 
she is permitted to romp and play in de- 
lightful freedom. 

Marion is a professed vegetarian, and 
to a great extent a raw-food enthusiast. 
Her diet consists of fresh milk, poached 
eggs, entire wheat bread, unfired bread, 
uncooked cereals soaked in milk or 
mixed with butter and honey. Nuts and 
fruits of all kinds are eaten freely. Her 
"sweet tooth" is appeased with honey. 
The child receives no candy and no meat. 
She is encouraged to get all the sleep 
possible, and sleeps twelve hours daily, 
from 7 p. m. to 7 a. m. 

Light and air are the most beneficent 



128 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

of health-giving agencies; but they are 
not valued as they should be. But in 
whatever unhealthy habits we may have 
fallen ourselves, let us nevertheless 
be wise with a generous wisdom in our 
dealings with our little ones, and per- 
mit them to enjoy freely that which Na- 
ture has so lavishly furnished for the 
well-being of humanity. 




M.\i:io\ EVELYN COOK. 
A strong : "i'l infill ifiil child, who receives tlic tonical 



md strengthening 



bath each moraine 



CHAPTER XXI 

baby's first steps 

" How careful should the parents be 

The better part to choose, 
Since e'en the baby in the house 

Is walking in their shoes." 

When the time comes that baby, tir- 
ing of scrambling and creeping, at- 
tempts to toddle across the room on a 
couple of very uncertain legs, his 
mother must exercise great caution lest 
the efforts of the child work him irre- 
parable harm. Do not, as you wish for 
beautiful, straight, well developed limbs, 
try to hurry or urge baby to stand or to 
walk, before he is fully prepared by 
Nature with the means to the end in 
question. Remember that his bones are 
130 



BABY'S FIRST STEPS 131 

as yet soft and yielding and if he be too 
soon allowed to put the weight of his 
body upon them, just so surely will 
they yield to that weight, and become 
hoop-like, or, as it is commonly called, 
"bow-legged" rather than the straight 
and perfect members that Nature meant 
them to be. So will baby carry through 
life a deformity due to no fault of his 
own, but which will surely be a constant 
rebuke to his mother on the score of 
either her neglect or her vanity, the one 
equalling the other in its disastrous con- 
sequences. She may have failed to 
check his locomotive precocity or, 
through motherly false pride, have en- 
couraged him to walk at too early an 
age, but the result is the same in both 
cases. I beg of you not to thus rob 
him of his right to comeliness and so 
cast a shadow over his manhood. In 



132 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

later years no reproach may ever fall 
from his lips, but do not doubt that al- 
though his love for you may prompt 
him to suffer in silence, the sting of his 
misshaping will be none the less poig- 
nant. 

Exercise his little legs regularly and 
perseveringly then, but never permit 
him to bear his full weight upon them 
all at once. Let the pressure upon 
them be very gradual and allow weeks 
or months to pass before he really 
walks unaided. In any event let the at- 
tempt to stand be on the part of baby 
and not due to a suggestion from his 
mother. When the ' ' wee man ' ' tries to 
lift himself up by the bedpost, the chair, 
the wall, or mother's knee, let his case 
be like that of King Bruce of Scotland 
and the spider, and through constant 
effort he will succeed at last. His inci- 



BABY'S FIRST STEPS 133 

dental tumbles will not hurt him a bit 
for his little bones are soft and his 
muscles elastic, so that he practically 
rebounds unhurt from whatever he 
lands on. 

If the nursery is furnished as simply 
as has been advised, there will be but 
few corners to give him ugly knocks and 
bruises, while his constant exercising 
will strengthen him and develop his 
powers of resistance so thoroughly that 
his little falls will soon be borne with 
Spartan courage. What has been said 
of baby's legs applies equally to his 
growth in general. Let such growth be 
slow and sure so that no power is over- 
taxed, but each member or function as a 
part of his whole being expands and de- 
velops with equalized strength and 
beauty. So shall there advent the per- 
fected man. 



CHAPTER XXII 

BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT AN IMPORTANT 
FACTOR 

" Beauty ? 'Tis God made manifest in these — 
The sway of grasses, and the grace of trees 
That yield to clasp of zephyrs ; or the glow 
Of garnet roses, or the brooklet's flow, 
The noon-day's splendor or the hues of dawn, 
The sapphire ocean or the em'rald lawn. 
Who hath the sense of Beauty, happy he ! 
For, knowing it, dear God, he knoweth Thee ! " 
— Thomas Chidgey. 

The influence of environment upon a 
baby's mental and physical being is of 
a very notable nature indeed. The lit- 
tle one is a sort of mirror which, more 
or less faithfully, reflects its surround- 
ings. In the case of the mirror proper, 
however, the reflection is of a passing 
sort. With baby the things outside of 
134 



BABY'S ENVIRONMENT 135 

itself that it sees or hears or feels, be- 
come permanent impressions. The 
distinction between the bright, jolly, 
healthy infant and the apathetic, 
gloomy, sickly child will on inquiry, be 
found to be that of cheerful parents and 
a sunlit home on the one hand and a 
surly father, a cross mother and air- 
less, dim apartments on the other. 

Parents, or a good many of them at 
least, overlook the fact that babyhood 
is the one period when the mobile hu- 
man material can be moulded into 
shapes of beauty or forms of homeli- 
ness. For this reason, everything with 
which the little one comes in contact, 
tends to further its advancement or 
hasten its retrogression. There is no 
compromise possible. Its senses serve 
for one of two things — they either 
convey to its awakening brain impres- 



136 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

sions that please and soothe, or impres- 
sions that annoy and irritate. And 
these are like the work of the engraver's 
tool in soft metal, first a mere sugges- 
tion, then a deepening of the line and 
finally we see the indelible impression 
upon the metal. 

The poet wrote wisely, well and truly 
when he averred that the " child is 
father of the man," for that which is 
evident in manhood is but the fruition 
of the seed sown in childhood. Remem- 
bering this then and remembering too 
that a baby's senses are for the time be- 
ing acting as its reason and conscience, 
does it not follow that we should do our 
utmost to gratify those senses along 
legitimate lines by permitting them to 
come in contact only with tilings, whole- 
some and beautiful, in order that the 
immature mentality may, by a process 



BABY'S ENVIRONMENT 137 

of assimilation, become beautiful and 
wholesome also? 

Beauty is a condition or arrange- 
ment which we know exists but cannot 
define. All we do know is that our en- 
joyment of it is due to the fact that it 
is that which it is, and beyond this we 
are in the dark in spite of laborious 
arguments and attempted explanations 
on the part of logicians and metaphysi- 
cians. In degree if not in kind, we en- 
joy the odor of a violet which we know 
exists although we cannot define it. 

The point that the writer is attempt- 
ing to make is, that love of beauty is a 
human instinct rather than a quality 
acquired by study or by the ripening 
of the faculties. In other words a baby, 
within the limitations of its little senses, 
is as capable of appreciating the color, 
form and perfume of a Jacqueminot 



138 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

rose as are its parents, because the 
power of such appreciation was born 
with it precisely as is its power of dis- 
tinguishing between things nauseous to 
the taste and those that are palatable. 

I have in mind three babies of my 
acquaintance. In the parlor of the 
parents of one, a boy, hangs a very love- 
ly study in peonies. 

"Whenever the youngster gets fretful, 
as the best of youngsters will, he is 
shown the pictured flowers. Instantly 
the small face lights up with admira- 
tion, the eyes darken with animation, 
the smiles reappear, and the child be- 
comes absorbed in the glowing beauties 
of the painting. 

Another little one is a girl. She is 
also a mite of a few months and outside 
of being allowed to scramble on a grass 
plot in a state of nature, her greatest 



BABY'S ENVIRONMENT 139 

joy in life is to listen to her mother 
playing some dreamy composition, say, 
one of Chopin's nocturnes. Then the 
child's countenance assumes a rapt ex- 
pression of spiritual content, and, as she 
looks thus, no one can question the fact 
that the serene beauty of the piece is in 
harmony with and understood by her 
budding soul. 

And there is yet the other baby. The 
parents of this one are well-to-do and 
live in a large apartment, most of whose 
windows peer blindly into a so-called 
light shaft. The nursery faces on this 
shaft. It is a fairly big room with 
painted walls that are devoid of decora- 
tions of any kind. Both parents come 
of hard headed New England stock in 
whose make-up there is no grain of 
artistic feeling. As a consequence, the 
house throughout is thoroughly well 



140 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

furnished but for use only. Flowers 
there are none, pictures but a few and 
they, hard, black and white engravings ; 
the piano is kept shut because playing 
tends to stain the keys and encourage 
frivolity, and a Puritanical severity of 
conversation and demeanor character- 
izes all the members of the household 
who smile but seldom and laugh less. 
The baby's nurse is a Scotch woman, a 
follower of Calvin and a consequent be- 
liever in the cheerful doctrine that 
everybody is predestined to damnation 
or salvation. 

Can you picture the baby concerned 
— the tiny human chameleon that, like 
all of its kind, takes color from its sur- 
roundings? The writer fancies you 
can. It is a solemn, sallow-faced child 
with but few if any of the charms of 
babyhood. Its eyes are hollow and 



BABY'S ENVIRONMENT 141 

wistful and it smiles but rarely. It 
seems to be too repressed to be even 
peevish. Healthy it is not and it sleeps 
but poorly. If you have the gift of 
sympathy with children, you feel in- 
stinctively that its nature, or at least 
that part of it that craves for beauty, is 
being starved. 

Parents in whose care the Almighty 
has committed little ones, be mindful 
that you are not traitors to your trust. 
Beauty is as much a child's prerogative 
as are its food and clothing. Draw up 
the shades and let your babies revel in 
the beauty of the sunlight. Let there 
be things bright and beautiful about the 
house. See to it that your child knows 
the beauty of untrammeled limbs. Let 
it hear the beauty of its mother's voice 
in song. And from the first, teach It 
and yourself the beauty of kind words, 



142 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

of patience and of tender attention. 
So shall your children rise up and call 
you blessed. 



CHAPTER XXIII 

THE CRIME OF SOOTHING SYRUPS 

" And be these drugging fiends no more believed 
That keep the word of promise to our ear, 
And break it to our hope ! " 

— Shakespeare. 

There are crimes against babyhood of 
which the law takes no cognizance and 
for which it provides no punishment. 
One of the most flagrant of these is the 
drugging of little ones by means of 
various hell-broths known as "teas," 
" soothing " syrups and the like. The 
most merciful thing that can be said of 
a woman who will pour one of such de- 
coctions down the throat of her helpless 
infant is that she is sinning through ig- 
norance. None the less is she commit- 
143 



144 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

ting mental and physical murder, how- 
ever, and none the less will Nature exact 
the penalty of her wrong-doing, possi- 
bly from herself, but certainly, alas! 
from her tiny victim. 

But not even the questionable excuse 
of ignorance can be pleaded in the case 
of thousands of women who disgrace 
the name of mother. Such, lacking the 
love, patience and wisdom of the true 
parent, will " quiet" baby at any cost. 
The peevishness of the child may be the 
outcome of uncomfortable clothing, im- 
proper food, underfeeding or overfeed- 
ing, want of exercise, need of fresh air 
and sunshine or perhaps neglect in gen- 
eral, but of these and for these the 
mother of the type in question cares 
nothing. Usually of the fairly well ed- 
ucated middle class, she lives for the 
bargain counter, the matinee and the 



THE CRIME OF SYKUPS 145 

not infrequent flirtation. Her home is 
an incidental of, rather than the pivotal 
point in, her life, and her shallowness 
and selfishness prompt her to dislike its 
duties and detest its incumbrances, in- 
cluding the ' ' squalling brat. ' ' So when 
the wail of the unhappy child annoys 
her, she does not seek to remove the 
cause thereof. Instead, there is a visit 
to the cupboard, the production of a bot- 
tle, the prying open of a small, feverish 
mouth and the baby sinks into an un- 
easy drug-induced slumber. And this 
the so-called mother does with a clear 
consciousness of the fact that she is 
" doping " her child. 

There is a third species of drug ad- 
ministering mother who will reply to 
your remonstrances by asserting that 
mother always used that " tea " for her 
babies or grandmother raised all her 



146 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

children on some other ungodly brew. 
In such instances you will invariably 
find that the family so " raised " can, 
as the doctors say, demonstrate a va- 
riety of nervous diseases, chronic dys- 
pepsia, crankiness and other tokens of 
unbalanced organisms. All this is lost 
on the mother, however, whose micro- 
scopic brains only permit her to do that 
which her predecessors did. Which is 
also the way of sheep, you will remem- 
ber. Instances of such drug adminis- 
tering mothers are met with by thou- 
sands of physicians in their daily prac- 
tice. 

Doctor Wilbur Hale, who for a long 
period was the head of one of London's 
famous hospitals for children and who 
had an international reputation as an 
expert on infantile maladies, was once 
asked to define the dominant impression 



THE CRIME OF SYRUPS 147 

or conviction that had resulted from his 
years of practice. His reply was : 

' ' The everlasting stupidity of the av- 
erage mother." 

This was a severe and perhaps too 
sweeping an assertion, but it must be 
remembered that he was constantly in 
touch with the tiny victims of parental 
blunders or worse. 

Still, it goes without saying, that the 
mother who will tamper with the ex- 
quisitely delicate and fragile machinery 
of her baby 's system by clogging it with 
narcotic poisons of any kind is crassly 
stupid if indeed she be not fiendishly 
wicked. And how many there are of 
such, let the advertisements of one 
widely known " soothing syrup " pro- 
claim. The firm which owns the nos- 
trum spends some hundreds of thou- 
sands of dollars annually in giving pub- 



148 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

licity to the fact that the " syrup " pro- 
duces a " natural, refreshing sleep." 
Which on the face of it is a falsehood, 
for no drug ever did or ever can achieve 
such a result. The advertising amount 
in question means that every year a 
million or more bottles of the stuff are 
sold and ruin is wrought to the bodies 
and brains of more than a million of 
babies. 

The active element in this " syrup " 
is laudanum, the flavor of which is dis- 
guised by essences scarcely less harmful, 
the whole being " digested " in a heavy 
sugar solution. Pleasant stuff truly to 
put into a baby's stomach — an organ 
that is intended to receive and adjusted 
to digest but one thing, its mother's 
milk. 

Some years since a wholesome and 
systematized series of child murders 



THE CRIME OF SYRUPS 149 

were unearthed in Paris. For a con- 
sideration of a few francs an unwel- 
come baby could be sent to a maison des 
en f ants kept by a couple of old women. 
In due season the child would die. When 
the police raided the place, some cases 
of the "syrup" were among the things 
seized. One of the hags who confessed, 
said that it was administered to the lit- 
tle victims because it was safe, sure and 
could be bought anywhere. 

Paregoric is another laudanum-laden 
drug and of a very dangerous sort in- 
deed. In this connection it is proper to 
call attention to the fact that many a 
woman who lifts up eyes and hands in 
righteous horror at tales of Chinese 
opium dens and their degraded in- 
mates, will, nevertheless, administer 
opium — for it and laudanum are prac- 
tically one — to her baby. And there is 



150 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

ample medical testimony to prove that 
a large proportion of the "dope" fiends 
of our own race, are that which they are, 
because of the love of the drug im- 
planted in them in infancy by their 
mothers. Can anything be more terri- 
ble than this? 

Of catnip, senna and a half dozen 
other "teas," of aniseed cordial, of 
decoctions of caraway and similar seeds, 
of the scores of patent preparations for 
the numbing of little brains and calling 
it sleep, nothing further need be said ex- 
cept that each and all of them are 
worthy of the bitterest denunciation. 

Also the doctor who recommends and 
the parent who administers alcohol in 
any form to a baby should be adjudged 
guilty of a criminal act. The seeds of 
dipsomania are repeatedly sown in in- 
fancy and the alcoholic wards in our 



THE CRIME OF SYRUPS 151 

hospitals are, but too often, the final 
chapters of a history which began with 
the tiny drop of whiskey or gin forced 
between the unwilling lips of the mite 
lying on its mother's lap. 

The writer has a dear little friend 
just seven months old. Normally he is 
the incarnation of fine and wholesome 
brightness. Recently and one evening 
Jimmie was found lolling back in his 
cot, his face expressionless, his lower 
lip drooping, his eyes bleary and his 
whole attitude one of utter listlessness. 

Jimmie refused to respond to the 
writer's greeting with his usual smile 
and crow and instead, stared stupidly. 

"What's the matter with him?" was 
asked of the mother. 

"Oh," replied the latter, pleasantly, 
"he's a — a trifle — ah — dopey, you know. 
Just been having his gin and water." 



152 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

".What!" 

"Yes, he hasn't been sleeping very 
well of late and the doctor told me to 
give him a spoonful or two before he 
retired for the night. Now he sleeps 
well enough, but he 's beginning to look 
for it, the little scamp." 

Now this mother is an estimable wom- 
an, a church member and the wife of 
a prominent business man of New York 
City. 

I pointed out this manner of educat- 
ing a child to become a drunkard to the 
mother. 

" Nonsense,' ' was the answer, "moth- 
er always gave her children plenty of 
gin and water and look at us." 

The writer did look. Also he remem- 
bered that the lady from her girlhood 
up to the time of, and subsequent to, her 
marriage was a martyr to St. Vitas 



THE CRIME OF SYEUPS 153 



Dance, that her youngest brother is a 
sufferer from Bright 's disease and that 
she had lost five brothers and sisters. 
All of which might or might not have 
been the outcome of the liberal doses of 
alcohol given to the children by their 
mother. Well may some of our babies 
Lisp, " From 
many of our 
mothers, Good 
L o r d deliver 
us!" 

I n contrast 
to this, witness 
the robust and 
clear-eyed little 
youngster of 
Dr. Rheinhold, 
recently de- 
ceased. This 
physician was, PlA 1 ?? !?' 

1 • ' weight 22Vj lbs 




154 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

in his day, a persistent opponent of the 
poisoning of infants by drugs. His 
little son has never had a sick day in his 
life, nor has he cost his parents a single 
night's rest. His cheeks are said to 
be as red as roses, and the mother 
writes that his loud little laugh can be 
heard ringing through the house 
at almost any part of the day. Xow, 
twelve months old, he can walk without 
help, and is able to talk intelligibly. He 
is the possesor of ten little teeth, which 
did not in the least trouble him in arriv- 
ing. He believes in cold-water baths, 
and will not be forgotten when the hour 
arrives, twice daily, for his "tub." No 
soap or powder has ever touched his un- 
chafecl rosy skin. He has not soiled a 
napkin since he became about three 
months of age, and goes to stool regular- 
ly each night and morning. 



THE CRIME OF SYRUPS 155 

The child has never had a drop of 
medicine, and received no food what- 
ever, except his mother's milk, up to one 
year of age. For years, the mother was 
intelligent enough to abstain from all 
meats, coffee, tea and all other nerve- 
deadening stimulants. It is needless to 
say that the father practiced the same 
methods, and the child is therefore ab- 
solutely free from any transmitted ner- 
vous or mental taint. 

It is worthy of mention that the 
father was fifty-one years young and the 
mother thirty when the child was born. 



CHAPTER XXIV 

THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS 

" The land is swept with a storm of sighing, 
The huds are beaten with rain of tears ; 
Sorrow belate o'er the babies, dying, 

O'er empty cradles and childless years! 
Silence! oh father; be dumb, oh mother! 

Your lamentations will not avail — 
'Tis your thoughtless hands that the young lives 
smother, 
Your selfish selves give the grave its tale ! " 
— H. Mitchell Watchet. 

The student who dares to think along 
original lines, who has the courage to 
depart from the conventional, who will, 
in spite of sophistries or tradition, de- 
duce plain conclusions from obvious 
facts, is sure to come in contact with 
conditions due to our alleged civilization 
so astoundingly abhorrent or terrible 
156 



MASSACRE OF BABIES 157 

that he may be forgiven if at first he 
doubts the soundness of his judgment or 
the evidence of his senses. For instance 
he will discover that hundreds of thou- 
sands of infants die every year in this 
supposedly enlightened land of ours, — 
slaughtered by the ignorance of those 
who gave them life. In view of such 
things, it is only after a verification of 
his data that he finds himself compelled 
to accept the melancholy conclusion 
that civilization is in many respects an 
utter failure. Also he will admit that 
the further we depart from a state 
of Nature or savagery, if you prefer the 
term, the greater is the interval between 
us and many of those things that make 
for health, longevity and true happi- 
ness. 

Who or whom are responsible for 
these lamentable conditions, for respon- 



158 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

sibility must exist somewhere or some- 
how? The reply is, that, to a very 
great extent at least, our Boards of Ed- 
ucation must bear the blame. Educa- 
tion, and especially public school educa- 
tion of to-day, is the reverse of practi- 
cal. Children are taught much of an- 
cient history, are given a smattering of 
dead languages, a superficial knowledge 
of modern ones, have a veneering of a 
whole lot of things of a decorative na- 
ture and — that's about all. It is true 
that hygiene and physiology are al- 
legedly included in our school courses, 
but these, as well as the rest of the 
studies, are taught in so hurried and 
crowded and higgledy-piggledy a fash- 
ion that the bewildered youngsters in 
sheer self defense try to clear their 
over-loaded brains of them and all mem- 
ory of them as promptly as possible. 



MASSACRE OF BABIES 159 

The results of this system or rather 
lack of system, are made manifest when 
its human products take up the duties 
of life. Shallowness and ignorance are 
the chief characteristics of these young 
men and women. The manager of a 
Wall Street firni of accountants told 
the writer that a youth armed with an 
armful of college " diplomas" once ap- 
plied to him for a position. It was dis- 
covered that the applicant was incap- 
able of doing simple sums in arithmetic. 
He explained his inability thus, "You 
see, I made a speciality of English litera- 
ture and botany and really couldn't give 
much time to figures." He was a good 
example of the fool "education" of our 
time. 

If the victims of the system suffered 
only in a material way it would be bad 
enough, but its powers for evil are much 



160 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

more grave and far reaching. The girl 
who has " graduated" is, for instance, 
pitifully ignorant of the first principles 
of those things that mean everything 
to her in the future in the way of hope 
and happiness. Her mentality will 
be hung with educational "frills" that 
are about as useful and will last just as 
long as a chiffon sun-shade in a cloud 
burst. But has she been taught any- 
thing that even indirectly qualifies her 
for the duties of wifehood or mother- 
hood 1 Has she had a hint of the need 
of her preparing for both states by 
strengthening her mind and body and 
by obtaining control of her emotions'? 
Has she a clear understanding of the 
value of proper clothing, perfect venti- 
lation, the bath, intelligently directed 
exercises, the wholesome attributes of 
sunlight, the effect of permitting the air 



MASSACRE OF BABIES 161 

and skin to come in contact and the im- 
perative necessity of proper food? 

And in ninety-nine cases ont of a 
hundred the reply will be in the nega- 
tive. 

So Mary Smith, who knows a morsel 
of algebra, a trifle of geometry, a 
couple of dozen words of German, the 
difference between the stamens and pis- 
tils of a flower, but who is densely igno- 
rant regarding really vital things, mar- 
ries, has children and proceeds to rear 
them in the good old rule of thumb man- 
ner. And her husband being as much 
in the dark as she, naturally objects not. 

What are the results 1 You will find 
much of the reply in the statistics of in- 
fant mortality. 

When Lycurgus ruled the ancient 
Spartans, weak and sickly babies were 
drowned. We shudder with horror at 



162 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

the thought. But now a large propor- 
tion of our babies are killed in a far 
more cruel manner. It was necessary 
to destroy only an occasional infant in 
Spartan days, but we kill by the thou- 
sand, little ones who are born strong 
and healthy. By slow and painful pro- 
cesses we crush out their lives. Death 
to Sparta's condemned babies was in- 
stantaneous and painless. Inch by 
inch, day by day, our innocents are 
stifled to death. 

Mothers and fathers mourn, and sad- 
dle the blame for their loss upon Divine 
Providence, woefully regardless of the 
fact that they and they alone are the 
responsible parties. 

Roughly estimated, there are 1,500,- 
000 babies born in the United States 
every year. Over 750,000 of these in- 
fants are killed before they reach five 



MASSACRE OF BABIES 163 

years of age, by the ignorant or hothouse 
methods adopted in caring for them. 
Do you doubt this startling assertion? 
Do you doubt that human life is so 
triflingly cheap that it can be wasted in 
this manner without exciting the atten- 
tion of legislators and public educa- 
tors ? If you do, there are ample means 
of proving the truth of our foregoing 
assertion. 

There is no waste in Nature. Every- 
thing born with life has sufficient 
strength, barring a few exceptions, to 
attain its maturity under normal con- 
ditions. The truth of this is proven 
absolutely in lower animal life. But a 
very small percentage of such animals 
die before maturity. A baby always 
possesses sufficient vitality to grow to 
manhood and womanhood under proper 
conditions, and if it does not do so, 



164 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

somebody is guilty of moral if not legal 
infanticide. 

Superstition and mystery have been 
our false guides in the care of babies 
at all times. Why not throw these 
aside and use common sense for awhile ? 
Good, wholesome out-door air is bene- 
ficial for a grown person, but by some 
absurd process of reasoning, which no 
one can explain, it is supposed to be 
injurious to babes. Every breath of 
air must be kept from them. They are 
presumed to be too delicate to breathe 
pure air, but not too delicate to breathe 
air befouled with the poisons that 
emanate from their own and the lungs 
of others. Their poor little bodies are 
often so bound with clothing that they 
are almost smothered and the pores of 
their skins cannot fulfill their important 
functions. Their stomachs are sup- 



MASSACRE OF BABIES 165 

posed to be capable of assimilating an 
almost continuous stream of nourish- 
ment. Every cry of dissatisfaction is 
supposed to indicate a desire for food, 
and they are fed so frequently that 
rolls upon rolls of fat encumber their 
little bodies and make them easy vic- 
tims to diseases of all kinds. 

Must this slaughter continue indef- 
initely f 750,000 babies murdered yearly 
by ignorance! I venture the assertion 
that the next generation will look back 
upon us as individuals not many degrees 
removed from savages struggling for 
light, but still shrouded in the dark- 
ness that enfolds all so-called advance- 
ment which, having for its sole purpose 
the greed of gain, ignores the needs and 
demands of humanity and refuses to 
shed the sloughs of its ancient blunders 
and woe-working superstitions. 



CHAPTER XXV 

PHYSICAL CULTURE FOR BABIES 

" Remember, 'tis not the ancients or their sons 
That are the nation's hope, but they of lips 
Bedewed with mothers' milk, whose feet as yet 
Bear not the burdens of the bodies which, 
In coming days, shall be the State's strong ram- 
parts." 

— Burbridge. 

The assertion that physical culture is 
of distinctive benefit almost from birth 
to death, will be questioned only by 
those who are not familiar with its pos- 
sibilities. But even they who are igno- 
rant of its methods and principles, will 
not deny that the limited muscular pow- 
ers of a newly born baby can only be 
developed by proper and constant exer- 
cise. Physical culture, whether for in- 
166 



EXERCISES FOR BABY 167 

fants or adults consists not of hap- 
hazard movements of the limbs and 
body, but of exercises, each of which is 
for the purpose of strengthening a 
specific muscle or group of muscles. In 
the case of babies the system is modified 
to meet the special needs of their gelatin- 
ous muscles, soft bones, and relatively 
weak ligaments. So that the most 
timid of parents can use it without fear 
of its harming their little ones. Exer- 
cise is the first law of babyhood and if 
the instinct of the youngster in this re- 
gard is directed into the right channels, 
so much the better for it, its parents 
and those who are to come after it. 

As has been intimated and thanks to 
Nature, the desire for activity in a child 
is too strong to be curbed. By kicking 
and squirming and swinging his arms 
he gradually secures enough strength 



168 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

to crawl. After indulging in the de- 
light of this new-found freedom for a 
while, and after repeated endeavors in 
the art of balancing, sufficient strength 
and skill are acquired to walk. Every 
child practices physical culture, and in 
the proportion that children are en- 
couraged in their natural desire for ex- 
ercise so will they improve in health, 
strength, and symmetry and beauty of 
body. Even the ultra prudish could 
hardly fail to admire a nude little one of 
the type in question, which, clad only 
in its innocence, is a combination of the 
physically perfect and the untainted 
morally. 

There are but few children between 
the ages of say, one and eight or ten 
years, who do not possess well-shaped 
bodies. They have nothing else to do 
but to play, and there is no better phys- 



EXERCISES FOR BABY, 169 

leal culture than active play. If you 
have a child who is not able to find com- 
panions of its own age, ready and will- 
ing to run, wrestle, jump, push and pull, 
it is your duty to become a child your- 
self, and thus give its little body the ex- 
ercise so necessary to its development. 
When we see a healthy, well-kept child, 
we usually comment on its beauty, but 
the fact that the beauty disappears long 
before maturity, rarely causes com- 
ment. Yet this passmg of physical 
charms should not be. It is one of the 
terribly destructive results of the abnor- 
mal conditions connected with educa- 
tion and our environments. 

Let it be repeated that all the lower 
animals increase in physical perfection 
up to maturity, and there is no reason 
in the world why it should not be the 
same with human beings. 



170 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

Do not forget that the less clothing 
worn by a child the faster will he ac- 
quire size, strength and symmetry. Of 
course he should be sufficiently dressed 
as to insure that his body be kept fairly 
but not unnaturally warm. Clothing 
that weighs on the child, hampering its 
movements and crushing all its desire 
for exercise, is responsible for many 
maladies, and for the deplorable lack of 
physical beauty in infancy and in later 
life. 

There is no occasion to fear colds if 
the child is allowed to breathe fresh, 
pure air and is not overfed. Neglect in 
this regard is also responsible for a 
number of the diseases that attack chil- 
dren. 

Following out the theory that in or- 
der to develop strength in a child it must 
be given every encouragement to the end 



EXERCISES FOR BABY 171 

of its using its muscular powers, we give 
a series of exercises with this chapter, 
the result of which will astound any 
parent who will give them a fair trial 
for one or two months. 

Of course all these exercises should 
be considered in the light of play by the 
child. They should be one big romp 
from beginning to end. Unquestion- 
ably the exertion incidental to giving 
the baby this romp will be of benefit to 
the adult participants in it also. 

For the sake of precaution we will 
take for granted that your child is weak. 
Begin slowly. Do not under any cir- 
cumstances handle it in a way which 
apparently causes pain or discomfort. 

The less clothes worn by the child in 
this romp, or physical culture treat- 
ment — for such it really is — the better 
will be the results. And for heaven's 



172 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

sake do not starve its little lungs. Open 
the windows wide. Thousands of chil- 
dren are annually laid away in their 
graves for the need of a sufficiency of 
pure air. 

After you have played with the child 
for awhile and warmed its body by ac- 
celerating the circulation, no amount of 
fresh, pure air will give it a cold. 

Whatever you do, avoid making these 
exercises anything resembling work for 
the little one. Let them be a pleasure 
for yourself as well as for your pupil 
from first to last. If you are a man, 
take off your coat, roll up your sleeves 
and "go at it" with zest, with energy, 
with hearty enjoyment. If you are a 
woman, remove your corsets, and do 
likewise. 

After you have developed enough 
strength in the child to enable it to en- 



EXERCISES FOR BABY 173 

dure a considerable amount of whole- 
some exertion, there will be very little 
need of other means of exercise for the 
parent who treats an infant to a daily 
lesson in physical culture. Especially 
is tli is so if you free yourself from the 
ridiculous fear of fresh air, and so open 
the windows while the exercises are be- 
ing given. Every part of these move- 
ments must be sacrificed to the play ele- 
ment. Do not try to give them in their 
regular order — give them in "any old 
way" just so that you learn each one 
thoroughly and do not miss it during 
the "romp." 

Always cease the moment the child 
shows signs of fatigue. 

The best guide in this connection is 
to continue until the child sees no more 
fun in it — until the pleasure of the romp 
lias been exhausted. Then, if it is bed 



174 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

time and it does not greatly desire to go 
to bed immediately, or if it wakes before 
morning after all this vigorous work, 
there is something radically wrong with 
the youngster. 




Exercise No. 1. Raise (lie child high in the air sev- 
eral times from this position. This will expand and 
develop Llie. muscles around the chest. 



175 




Exercise No. 2. — Raise the child as per illustration. 
Now while holding him in this position, bring his 
hands together, then far out to the side again. Varia- 
tion — Move right hand forward and left hand away 
from ynu. then vice versa. Tliis exercise is also excel- 
lent for expanding the chest and developing the muscles 
in that region of the body. 
176 




Exercise \<>. .',. [nstrud the child to clasp its hands 
tightly over your arm, then raise i< off the II : sev- 
eral times. Especially good for strengthening the handsj 
in in- and cheai , 

177 




Exercise Xo. l l . — Grasp its feet in such a manner that 
it can catch hold of your two thumbs with its hands, 
then raise and swing it hack and forth. For strengthen- 
ing the legs, hips, back and arms. 

178 




Ewercise \r>. 5. — Grasp it, by tlio wrisl and one leg, 
lift and lower it Beveral limes. Then lift it by both 
hands and one leg — botb legs and one band. Ita very 
careful in this exercise aa it is rather rough handling un- 
less the child is strong. 

179 




Exercise Xo. 6. — Clasp its hand lightly. Now try 
to induce it to raise its body with just as little assist- 
ance on your part as possible. Have the child continue 
until it acquires the impression that it is work. Then 
cease. For strengthening the legs. 
180 




Exercise Vb. 7. Raise the child with hands under 
abdomen as per illustration, and induce it, if possible, 
to bold its body straighl for a slim! I ime. The closer 
the hands are together, the more difficuH will be the 
exercise. For strengthening the bads and hips. 
181 




Exercise No. S. — Raise the child with hands under 
the back as per illustration. Coax it to straighten its 
body if possible. The nearer the hands are held to- 
gether the more difficult the movement. For strength- 
ening the abdominal muscles. 



182 






Emerciee Wo. 9. — Raise the child with hands under its 
Bide. First under one side, then the other. For 
strengthening muscles on sides of hips and waist. 



183 




Exercise No. 10. — Raise the child by grasping both 
ankles as per illustration. While holding it in this 
position bring feet together, then far outward. Also 
move one leg forward and the other towards you. then 
vice versa. For muscles of legs, hips and waist. 
184 




/..<- ; cise \ o. //.- Raise i 


hild by 


one ]('£, grasping 


ankle ;is per illustration. 


LaiSe iin 


1 lower it ;i few 


times and i hen same « ii h i h 


■ other 


eg. For strength- 


••ning legs and hips. 







185 



CHAPTER XXVI 

EXERCISES FOR MOTHER AXD BABY 

" Their lithe limbs sway in unison, and their cheeks, 
Flush with the happy tides of sweet pure blood." 

I intimated in the preceding chapter 
that the benefits resulting from the ex- 
ercises therein described, were not con- 
fined to the baby alone but that the 
parents shared in them. The same re- 
mark stands good of the movements 
given in this chapter but more em- 
phatically so. For while baby's mus- 
cles will be vastly strengthened by their 
use, they will also be found to be of the 
greatest value to the mother who puts 
them into practice. Indeed, they have 
been especially devised by the author 
to act in this dual capacity and if any- 
186 



FOR MOTHER AND BABY 187 

thing, the needs of the mother have been 
given the first consideration. 

They can also be given or taken with 
benefit by any one strong enough to 
easily handle a child. The father, or 
grandmother, or aimt, or nurse, for in- 
stance, could go through the movements 
and be greatly improved in strength 
and health thereby. The advantage of 
this system like many other systems that 
I have presented in magazine or book 
form, is that pleasure is combined with 
the muscularly adjusted work that is 
the basis of the movements as a whole. 

In slang phraseology, "it's a picnic 
for the baby." He will crow and laugh 
and squeal with delight during the exer- 
cises. 1 1 1 fact, he imagines that they are 
for his exclusi ve benefit and amusement, 
and there is no question as to the ad- 
vantages he derives from them in the 



188 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

way of a healthy stimulation of his bud- 
ding mentality apart from all else. 

If you are not thoroughly familiar 
with the contents of the previous chap- 
ters it would be greatly to your advan- 
tage to become so, for then you can more 
thoroughly systematize your efforts, so 
that both baby and yourself will receive 
the greatest possible benefits obtainable 
from the exercises therein set forth as 
well as from those that are herewith 
given. 

Of course, I do not advise a very weak 
mother to attempt to handle the baby 
in the exact manner here illustrated. If 
some of the movements are too difficult 
for her, she can use only those that can 
be easily executed, though each time the 
exercises are taken she should endeavor 
to perform the more difficult ones at 
least two or three times in succession. 



FOR MOTHER AND BABY 189 

If she does so she will be surprised to 
note how rapidly her strength increases. 
Usually she will be able in a short time 
to perform with ease those movements 
that were beyond her strength at the 
beginning of the course. 

These exercises cannot be too highly 
commended. They will increase the ac- 
tivity of the digestive organs and great- 
ly strengthen the general powers of as- 
similation, thus enabling the mother not 
only to eat with better appetite, but to 
thoroughly digest that which is eaten, 
and hence insure her a purer and richer 
supply of blood. 

A nursing mother should be careful 
not to take the exercises to excess, or to 
in; ike too vigorous efforts to perform 
those that are beyond her strength. 

Do not allow yourself to be cumbered 
with superfluous clothes during the ex- 



190 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

ercises. The less clothes worn the bet- 
ter. Indeed, if you can exercise in the 
nude we strongly recommend your so 
doing. The benefit that results from 
the air coming in direct contact with the 
skin is by no means small. And the 
baby will be far better without gar- 
ments of any kind to restrict his move- 
ments. There is not the slightest dan- 
ger of you or baby taking cold if the 
body is kept warm by vigorous action. 

And do not forget the necessity for 
good ventilation. There is life and 
health in unpolluted air, and exercise of 
any kind is productive of but little 
benefit if it is taken in a close, stuffy 
hermetically sealed house or apartment. 

Respiration is naturally greatly 
quickened during these exercises, and 
the lungs are strengthened because of 
this, if the air is rich in the oxygen re- 




Crowing with delight in anticipation of its exercises. 
101 




Standing erect, 
holding baby under 
arms, raise him 
forward to level 
W i t h shoulders, 
with elbows rigid. 
Repeat several 
times until fa- 
tigued. For devel- 
oping and round- 
ing out muscles of 
front of shoulder. 



Exercise No. 1. 
192 




/ ,.,..', \ o. '■ -Grasping baby under arms aB 
per illustration herewith, arms bent at elbows as 
much aB possible. Now raise high over head sev- 
eral times until fatig I. For strengthening and 

rounding out muscles on back of upper arm and 
1 1 '.tii of shoulders. 



193 




Raise baby 
from the floor, 
with elbows 
rigid, to high 
over head, bend- 
ing far back each 
time. Continue 
until tired. For 
s t rengthen- 
ing muscles of 
chest and back. 



Exercise No. S. 
194 




Exercise No. 4- 

Grasping baby's hands, as per illustration, swing him 
forward out from you to the right, then same to the 

left. Continue until tired. For shoulders, arms and 
buck. 



195 




Exercise Vo. 5. — Holding baby by bands, 
as shown In photograph herewith, with 

arms straight, raise it upward as high as 
possible by merely bending elbows. Con- 
tinue until tired. For rounding out and 
strengthening muscles of upper arm. 
196 




Exercise No. B.~ Standing erect with baby 
banking at arm length. Now raise it outward 
•to right side as near as possible to shoulder high. 
Same_ to left side. Continue alternating from 
one side to the other until tired. For muscles oi 
sido of shoulders and part of chest. 
197 




Exercise No. 7. — Grasp baby by the wrists behind as 
per illustration. Raise baby backward and upward as 
high as you can with elbows rigid. Continue until 
tired. For strengthening and rounding out muscles on 
back of shoulders. 

198 



FOR MOTHER AND BABY 199 

quired to purify the blood aud poor in 
those deleterious gases that are bred by 
insufficient ventilation. 

Do not begin these exercises with too 
much enthusiasm. Start in mildly and 
perform each movement until a slight 
feeling of fatigue is produced. After 
a moment 's rest begin another, keep on 
until tired, and continue in this way un- 
til you have taken all the movements in 
succession as illustrated. 

Get as much pleasure out of the exer- 
cises as you can, and also make as much 
fun as possible for the baby with their 
assistance. He will appreciate this, and 
will reciprocate, by assisting in his small 
way to increase the sportive element 
that must never be omitted from the 
exercises from first to last. Thus will 
the little brain as well as the small mus- 
cles both reap their quota of good. 



CHAPTER XXVII 

a mother's experiexce 



"Give to thy child and he in turn will give; 
Living for him, in him again thou'lt live. 
He of his weakness asks thy loving strength 
Till he, being strong, repays thy love at length ! 
— Phillip Arundel. 



The mother who is well grounded in 
the principles of physical culture can 
supplement the exercises already de- 
scribed with others of her own invention. 
But in so doing she Avill see to it that 
each movement is for a given purpose 
or, in other words, to strengthen and en- 
courage the growth of certain muscles of 
the baby's body. Unless she feels fully 
qualified to do this, she had better stick 
to those given in these chapters, for 
200 



A MOTHER'S EXPERIENCE 201 

movements made at random may not 
develop all parts of the body. Pro- 
vided that she can proceed intelligently, 




Baby is anxious to begin physical 
culture exercises. 



however, she will find that the task of 
evolving a now system is as delightful 



202 HEALTH FOE BABIES 

as it is profitable, both for herself and 
her little one. 

Mrs. Emelia B. Cope, whose contri- 
butions to physical culture literature 



*-•>"<< 




With baby's bands grasping Mother's 
thumbs, arms arc moved upward and out- 
ward. 



are invariably as practical as they are 
interesting, is an excellent example of 
the type of mother in question. 



A MOTHER'S EXPERIENCE 203 



A consistent obedience to some of Na- 
ture 's laws in the case of her little 
daughter Marguerite r 
has accomplished 
such gratifying re- 
sults that a descrip- 
tion of the methods 
employed by her will, 
without doubt, be of 
help to others who 
appreciate the gran- 
deur of motherhood 
and the greatness of 
its responsibilities. 
Realizing that the 
future happiness 
and welfare of her 
infant depended up- 
on a healthy and 
strong physique, and believing in the 
efficacy of pure air, water, exercise, sun- 




204 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

shine and proper diet as means most 
conducive to that end, Mrs. Cope deter- 
mined, ere the arrival of the ehild, to 
give it the conditions requisite for phys- 




Grasp ankle- and push feet back 
and forth, bending at knees. 



ical development, in so far as the pros- 
pective mother's knowledge of physical 
culture could guide her. 



A MOTHER'S EXPERIENCE 205 



Accordingly, from her very advent, 
which occurred with the arrival of cold 
weather, little Miss Cope was given all 
the oxygen two 
open w indo w s 
would admit, was 
feci only at regu- 
lar intervals, was 
spared the con- 
tinual jogging 
and jolting that 
bewilders the ma- 
jority of her 
tiny contempora- 
ries, and her 
small but well- 
knit frame es- 
caped the shack- 
les of tight hands 
and Long clothing that are the rule in 
the case of the ordinary babe. 



iM 



Si retch arms oul at sides 
ind far backward, then 
trine forward across chest. 



206 HEALTH FOR BABIES 



Perhaps these things account for 
her sunny disposition. At any rate, the 
daily baths, the draughts of pure air, the 






With hands under arms twist body to right and left. 

trips into the friendly sunshine, all are 
alike received with gracious smiles by 
this wonderful little human bud. 



A MOTHER'S EXPERIENCE 207 

But chief of all joys to her are the 
motion plays, or systematic exercises, 
which have been practiced by her and 
her mother since she was three weeks 
of age. 

How she laughs and stretches when 
her clothes are stripped off — a strong 
argument that they are superfluities. 

Preceding the bath, which is follow- 
ed by a gentle rubbing and patting of 
the entire surface of the body, Mrs. 
( lope and her baby practice each of the 
illustrated movements given herewith 
several limes, keeping time to a lively 
song by the mother. 



CHAPTER XXYIIL 

a mother's physical culture regime 
for her baby 

" Order thy infant's life as Nature bids thee to, 
And doing thus, no hotter eans't thou do." 

The dawn of a new clay is breaking 
for babyhood. 

The public is being slowly convinced 
that it is better to form than to reform. 
It is being impressed with the relation 
of sin and crime to physical ignorance 
and degeneracy, and is realizing that 
we can never hope to close our jails and 
reformatories till every child is 
strengthened physically as well as mor- 
ally. 

Let all of us help to speed the day 
when the importance of childhood shall 
be recognized — when the mists of igno- 
208 



A MOTHER'S REGIME 209 

ranee shall be dispersed by the sunlight 
of truth, and we shall vouchsafe to the 
divine human infant as unimpeded a 
growth as the young of the lower ani- 
mals receive. 

Is it too Utopian to dream of a land 
of sunshine and sand and birds and 
flowers, where the babes of new genera- 
tions shall revel untrammeled by houses 
and clothing and the burdens of the 
vices of our present civilization, and yet 
be the recipients of all that that same 
civilization is endeavoring to give child- 
hood — sympathy, encouragement, and 
the opportunities and stimuli for work- 
ing out its physical, intellectual and 
spiritual salvation? 

Prom far away Australia a delightful 
letter and a photo were received recently 
from a mother who lias successfully 
practiced physical culture methods in 



!10 HEALTH FOR BABIES 



the rearing of her child. "Across ten 
thousand miles of land and sea," she 
writes, "I am sending you a photo of 
my little son. 




Richard Chas. Watson, 11 mos., 34% lbs. 

"From the age of fourteen days I 
commenced giving my baby exercises 
every morning. Firstly, he goes for a 



A MOTHER'S REGIME 211 

run round the house and garden ; then 
comes the tepid bath ; then (to his great 
joy) his exercises — inter hided with 
heaps of fun and laughter ; then he has 
his breakfast of bananas or cereal, and 
always as much milk as he can drink. 
Every day, winter and summer, he has 
his air bath, much to the horror of every 
one who sees him, the usual exclamation 
being: 'Oh, the poor little darling! 
You will give him his death of cold ! ' 

"He sleeps under an open window, 
not on a bed of feathers or down, and 
with a very low pillow. He is very reg- 
ular in all his habits. He is just eleven 
months, and can get all over the house, 
up and down steps, and, in fact, any- 
where. His weight is thirty-four and a 
half pounds, and he is cutting his teeth 
without any trouble. 

"I am a great advocate for olive oil — 



212 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

(of the very purest) as an article of 
food, for, if used freely, it is never 
needed medicinally. My baby is so fond 
of it that, when he can seize the bottle 
with the stopper off, he gulps it down 
until it is taken from him. 

' ' The photo shows a fine development 
of chest and biceps for an eleven-months 
baby. He has never troubled me at 
night, for since one month old I have 
trained him to sleep and not 'make night 
hideous, ' as so many babies do. 

"I have not 'stuffed' him with food 
every two or three hours, thereby over- 
crowding the delicate stomach and in- 
testines. We have been able to infuse 
enough light upon a few, and have got 
them taking the papers ; but I hope in 
America they are not so hard to con- 
vince, and that the old-fashioned hour- 
glass figure and open window fallacy in 



A MOTHER'S REGIME 213 

regard to 'draughts' and ' colds' are 
things of the past. 

"I must say, however, for the women 
here that, except for the lower classes, 
the majority do not incline toward 
eighteen-inch waists ; but draughts ! Oh, 
dear! Even in the heat of summer, 
when a cool change comes, you must 
never sit where it can blow on you. 
You'll get 'cold!' 

" Fresh air, windows always open, 
baby exercises and air baths are what 
most people call 'new f angled' ideas and 
'cruelty.' I have been told by one per- 
son that I deserve three years for the 
way I treat my baby ; but just as long as 
I see him looking healthy and happy un- 
der my present 'mad' regime I will go 
on being 'mad,' 'peculiar,' for my 
child's life is more precious than the 
sayings of narrow-minded folk." 



CHAPTER XXIX 

SOME PHYSICAL CULTURE BABY ATH- 
LETES 

By their fruits ye shall know them. — Matthew 
7 ch. 20 v. 

Even those who have no practical ac- 
quaintance with physical culture can 
hardly object to the theories upon which 
it is based, although they may take more 
or less exception to the departure from 
accepted methods as far as its treatment 
of infants is concerned. Now the value 
of theories depends on the results of 
their application to those things with 
which they deal. The question in this 
connection therefore is, what, if any, 
have been the effects of subjecting in- 
214 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 215 

fants to the physical culture exercises 
and methods which this book has al- 
ready indicated and advocated"? Can 
it be shown that babies are benefited 
thereby ? Are the results for good of so 
notable a nature that they warrant their 
endorsement in general and the atten- 
tion of parents in particular ? 

The illustrations that follow are those 
of Miss Gladys, the two and a half 
year old child of Dr. F. S. Martin. Her 
strength and development are remark- 
able, many of her feats being such as 
pictures cannot do full justice to. 

The father's physical history is well 
known, and is the explanation of the 
child's present condition. Dr. Martin 
was crippled throughout his childhood, 
but later on developed, by simple, nat- 
ural methods, into a strong man. 

When a child was born to him, he de- 



216 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

terHiined to put her through a course of 
physical training. 

Here are some of the general princi- 
ples of the training of the child from 
her birth : 

1. Absolutely regular hours for eat- 
ing and sleeping. 

2. After weaning, her food consisted 
only of such things as were of nutritive 
value. But there was no other discrim- 
ination, the child eating that which she 
wished within a wide range of selection. 

3. ]STo hot, debilitating baths but 
every morning one of the temperature 
of the body, and every evening a cool 
bath. 

4. From the day of birth a series of 
exercises was gone through, but of 
course in a very gentle and incipient 
manner. At first the mere suggestion 
of the exercise was used, increasing day 




Miss Gladys Mmi in. aged 2% years, performing the 
difficult feal of hanging suspended from a bar and rais- 
ing legs at i i Li 1 1 1 angles to the body. 



217 




Lying rigid across chairs for support. Test shows 
splendid control and strength of muscles of back 
and neck. 



218 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 219 

by day, until at four mouths, the child 
kuew her movements, aud what was re- 
quired of her. At present she puts as 
much vim and energy in her work and 
strength tests as would an adult. 

The following are some of the results 
of this simple training: 

1. The child has never had an hour's 
sickness. She knows nothing whatever 
of those supposedly necessary ailments 
of childhood. 

2. In face and form she is j)erfect. 

3. Her muscular development 
speaks for itself, as seen in the illustra- 
tions. 

4. Her endurance is almost unlim- 
ited, and she has a sunny disposition. 

5. And the best result that has re- 
sulted from the possession of a sound 
body is an unusually sound mind and a 
brilliant one at that. A child two and 



220 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

a half 3 T ears old, familiar with three lan- 
guages, quick at baby repartee, able to 
sing both words and music correctly of 
more than a score of popular melodies, 
and the possessor of several other ac- 
complishments, is without doubt some- 
what of an exception. 

The first picture here given shows the 
development of arms, and particularly 
the stomach muscles. Every athlete 
knows that it is a fairly severe test to 
hang suspended from the bar and raise 
the extended legs at right angles with 
the body. 

In the second photograph we have an 
illustration of an interesting and val- 
uable test. The popular idea is that the 
small of the back is the weakest part of 
the anatomy. Little Gladys shows a 
thorough and easy control of these back 




Perry Maxwell Crawford. 
221 



222 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

muscles by lying rigid across a support 
but four inches wide. 

A most remarkable little man is 
Perry Maxwell Crawford— remarkable 
because lie is absolutely normal and 
healthy. 

His father, Mr. Albert Crawford, has 
always been interested in physical cul- 
ture and especially in its adaptability 
to children as a preventative of the ills 
to which childhood is heir. When he 
married, he converted his wife to his 
ideas, and when Perry was born, both 
parents were prepared to bring him up 
without any of the usual conventionali- 
ties that make an infant's life consist 
of clothes, crying and colic. The heavy 
garments and careful seclusion from air 
which most mothers consider essential 
to a youngster's well-being, have been 
unknown factors in baby Perry's life. 




Lifted up by back of neck. 
223 



224 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

He was born in Boston, May 7, 1901. 
Perry wore one small garment until he 
was three months old, and then that was 
discarded, and until he was ten months 
of age he wore no clothing at all. Then 
his mother decided that if garments 
must be worn outdoors, they should not 
restrict the little body so very much. So 
she devised a diminutive pair of trou- 
sers with straps going over the shoul- 
ders, and a jaunty little Russian blouse 
with a conventional loose, low belt. As 
these garments were made of very thin 
blue linen, one may imagine they were 
not very weighty, and there was no sign 
of underclothing. On his feet were the 
sheerest little white socks and slippers 
of soft yielding kid. This was a dress- 
up costume. When playing outdoors 
around home he wore only the trousers. 
In the house he was dressed in — noth- 



226 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

log. Although lie liked to be taken for 
a walk, lie seriously objected to having 
his feet covered. His lips would quiver 
and he wanted to cry when his mother 
began to put on the socks and slippers. 
He would point to them in mute disap- 
proval, and that not availing, he 
pleaded, "Mamma, mamma, please no ! " 
He could not understand why such use- 
ful things as feet need be hampered 
with such unnecessary articles. 

Perry never knew what it was to be 
in a room with closed windows. Even 
in the coldest winter weather he played 
on the floor of his nursery with the 
breezes blowing about him. During 
about half the } T ear he laid on his little 
bed naked all night long. In cold 
weather he was covered lightly. He 
greatly preferred being out of doors all 
day, and before he was a year old he 



228 11 EALTH FOR BAB] ES 

had developed a masculine love of using 
a small rake, spade and hoe. 

When he was three weeks old, his 
father began to give him light exercises, 
being very careful never to tire him, 
and by a gradual process he was taught 
to hang by his hands from his father's 
fingers. He was raised by being 
grasped at the back of the neck ; he was 
held by the wrists and lifted, stretching 
well the muscles of the back and arms. 
When he was three months old he was 
able to grasp a clothes line and hang by 
himself, kicking and crowing with glee. 
When lifted under the arms, he ex- 
tended his body until he lay in a hori- 
zontal position with no support except 
the slight pressure under the arms from 
the 1 lands of his father or mother. 

In the morning he delighted to stand 
on his father's chest and bending at the 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 229 

waist and hips, lean over and touch with 
outstretched hands his own rosy toes. 
Then he liked to have his father grasp 
him by the large muscles of the back, 
under the shoulders. The strain of his 
weight came entirely on these muscles, 
and his father held him only a few sec- 
onds, but the little fellow was accus- 
tomed to laugh and beg to be taken up 
again when put clown. The dumb- 
bells, massage exerciser and other ap- 
paratus were important playthings to 
him, and some idea of the firmness and 
elasticity of his flesh may be gained 
when one saw him drop a 1% lb. dumb- 
bell on his little foot in apparent uncon- 
cern. If interrupted at his play, he 
would stand pounding his firm, round 
thighs with his dumb-bells in a most 
unconcerned sort of fashion with force 
enough to make an ordinary child black 



230 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

and blue and the uninitiated spectator 
would stare with wonder. 

His parents wished to keep him off 
his feet somewhat, lest he be bow-leg- 
ged, but at eight months of age, despite 
their precautions, he learned to walk, 
and his legs are to-day as straight as the 
fondest parents could wish. Perry 
loved to go out in the yard at his Boston 
home in the winter with only his little 
trousers on. He picked up snow in his 
small hands and rubbed it on his face 
with evident delight. Every morning 
he had a cold bath and when he was so 
active as to need it, he had an extra bath 
or so during the day. 

When he was eight months old, the 
compulsory vaccination law in Boston 
made his father much trouble. The au- 
thorities insisted that he must be vac- 
cinated and his father declared that it 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 231 

should not be done under any circum- 
stances. Finally, when the crisis came 
and there seemed to be no alternative 
but to submit or leave Boston, Mr. 
Crawford, at much sacrifice, from a 
business point of view, came to Albany, 
New York. But when one looks at 
Perry Maxwell Crawford, one can well 
imagine that his father would make al- 
most any kind of sacrifice for the sake 
of such a boy. 

Perry's diet was that provided by Na- 
ture from the time of his birth until he 
was weaned, when he was allowed to be- 
gin to eat a little of the simplest kind of 
food, graham bread and milk, nuts 
ground fine, fruit and so forth. 

He has never had a cold or been sick 
in any way. He amused himself when 
a baby by the hour. A whole family 
of children, brought up as he was would 



232 HEALTH FOE BABIES 

require less attention than one child 
cuddled in conventional clothing, cod- 
dled and hampered in a conventional 
fashion, and suffering from the conven- 
tional consequences. 

Notwithstanding the perfect health 
and happiness of Perry, which up to 
date is evident to the most casual ob- 
server, his parents have been bothered 
ever since he was born by the interfer- 
ence of well-meaning but ignorant peo- 
ple. They have insisted that their way 
of taking care of children was much su- 
perior to the methods used by the Craw- 
fords, ignoring the fact that their chil- 
dren have been more or less sick during 
their lives while Perry has never known 
what sickness is. 

Twice Mr. Crawford has been threat- 
ened with arrest. Once on the street in 
Albany, two motherly women espied 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 233 

him giving Perry his everyday consti- 
tutional. It was a cold clay in Decem- 
ber. They were only a short way from 
home and Perry was clad but in his 
trousers. His legs and arms, though 
uncovered, were perfectly warm and 
glowing with the vitality that only 
comes from exposure to the action of 
the air. These good-hearted but mis- 
taken women were of the variety who 
believe in smothering a child in so many 
flannel and woollen clothes that the won- 
derful heat-producing mechanism of 
the body is utterly unable to perform its 
work in the way that Nature intended, 
so that a child takes cold, pneumonia or 
diphtheria when it undergoes the slight- 
est exposure. Well, the women called 
a policeman and demanded that Mr. 
ford bo arrested- The child, they 
declared, could not be his, or he would 



234 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

never be so cruel as to bring it outdoors 
wearing but one garment. The woman 
who had done most of the talking held 
out her hands to the supposed-abused 
baby. As he was wont to have a bout 
with his father when such a gesture was 
made, Perry supposed it to be an invi- 
tation for something of that nature, and 
he playfully planted his small fist in 
milady's left eye. Now Perry had a 
bit of muscle in his innocent looking 
arm, and though it cannot be known 
just how hard the blow was, it is certain 
that it was not the soft dab that one 
usually gets from the fist of an eight 
months old baby, and the surprise and 
wounded dignity on the meddlesome 
one's face as she retreated made the 
policeman laugh softly as he started to 
ring up the patrol. Mr. Crawford, 
however, succeeded in convincing the 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 235 

man that the child was his, and was not 
being cruelly treated in any way, and 
the patrol was not called. 

Some time later, the Society for the 
Prevention of Cruelty to Children sent 
a committee to investigate the manner 
in which the boy was being cared for 
by his parents. After spending an 
hour or so with Perry they went away, 
pretty well persuaded that their own 
children were the ill-treated ones, and 
not the little boy, thirteen months old, 
whose muscles were firm and well de- 
veloped, whose chest was broad and 
deep, and whose bright, laughing eyes 
fully endorsed the statement of his 
parents that he was perfectly well and 
happy. 

Joseph "W. Biddle, whose photo- 
graphs follow, is now twenty-two 
months old. His father began to give 



236 HEALTH FOE BABIES 

Mm physical training by means of mas- 
sage of back and limbs and sea-salt 
baths. At six weeks old, suspension by 
one leg and one hand alternately was 
added and in eight weeks he could sit 
erect on the palm of his parent's hand 
without support. In three months' 
time he had sufficient grip and strength 
to hold the entire weight of his body 
suspended on Mr. Biddle's first fingers 
long enough to raise him almost as high 
as the shoulder three times without 
touching the groimd. His legs, also, 
were developed proportionately and at 
the age of four months (although un- 
able to walk) , he could stand balancing 
himself on the palm of Ins father's 
hand. Altogether the youngster was 
an emphatic illustration of the advan- 
tages of physical culture principles as 
applied to infants of tender age. 



238 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

In telling of the training of his boy 
Mr. Biddle says: "Some of my 
friends may think Joseph's stunts are 
useless or at any rate represent the 
waste of considerable time, work and 
patience. This is not true; I am en- 
gaged from six in the morning until 
five-thirty and six o'clock in the evening 
seven days in the week, and am fre- 
quently on duty for successive days and 
nights with hardly time to stop for 
lunch. But it is a pleasure to me when 
I come home from work to have the lit- 
tle tots meet me in sound health with a 
happy smile. I find it a delight to de- 
velop and cultivate my children, and for 
the latter it is fun pure and simple. 

"One of Joe's chief est delights is to 
have me take hold of his ankles while 
standing on the ground, balancing him- 
self while I raise him up to full arm's 




Little Joe'a chiefesl delight, balancing himseli at full 
irm'a length, then plunging forward ii the direction 
if the ground. 



240 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

length. He then makes a plunge for- 
ward in the direction of the ground as 
shown in picture, and swings hack to 
position on my stomach ready for an- 
other plunge. When he was eighteen 
months old he would take a regular one- 
pound wooden dumb-bell by the hall and 
hold it out almost even with his shoul- 
der, his hand not quite covering one- 
third of the ball. 

"The child is considered perfect, 
mentally and physically. He has a 
sunny and happy disposition, is con- 
tented and cheerful, thoughtful, polite 
and congenial, and is a favorite with 
everyone who knows him. 

"He was sick only when cutting four 
teeth at one time. He is but little care 
or trouble to his mother, is able to help 
himself, is perfectly independent of any 
one's assistance, and prefers to walk 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 241 

alone instead of being led by the hand. 
He is cautious, sure-footed and very sel- 
dom gets hurt." 

"If any father wants a healthy, hap- 
py and cheerful baby with mental and 
physical force and power, instead of a 
weakling, let him try a little physical 
culture in the morning or evening. It 
will divert the child's energies in a most 
desirable direction and will work won- 
ders for a baby, the good wife, and him- 
self." 

Tli is is emphatic testimony indeed to 
the solid benefits a child may derive 
from physical culture. 

One is as safe in quoting as in putting 
in practice the axiom that "nothing is 
so important as a good beginning." 
Certainly to cheal a little one of Its rich 
heritage of a sound mind in a sound 
body by not giving ii iis due in the early 



242 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

days of its life is nothing short of crim- 
inal. 

Mrs. Dorothy Medland, the mother of 
Baby Medland, whose photo follows on 
next page, would probably have had 
no baby at all — neither one with the 
usual proneness to measles, chicken- 
pox and the like, nor a wholesome, hap- 
py boy with perfect health — without 
careful prenatal preparation both of 
mind and body. The picture following 
represents the happy result of such 
preparation when Master Medland was 
eleven months of age, at which time he 
walked independently over the entire 
house, and could say a great many 
words. 

In preparation for motherhood the 
physical culture exercises taken by Mrs. 
Medland were the usual strengthening 
of all muscles, with especial attention 




P.al.y Medland a1 11 months of age. 
243 



244 HEALTH FOE BABIES 

to what is known as "lying down ex- 
ercises" for the abdomen. Most im- 
portant of all was the deep breathing. 
The exercises once begun, were so stim- 
ulating and exhilarating, that there was 
no temptation for her to lag in her en- 
deavors to attain desired results. 

The baby was born in December, but 
from the time that he was three weeks 
old up to the present, he has been out of 
doors daily. He has had no illness save 
an occasional attack of colic during the 
first weeks of his life, and one severe 
cold taken in a steam-heated flat where 
it was piping hot on nice warm days 
and had but little heat when it was 
needed. This cold was croupy in 
sound, so the child's throat and chest 
were bathed in warm lard at night, it 
was given some movements to get the 
blood to doing its part, and the tepid 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 245 

bath followed next morning". This cold 
lasted two days and then vanished en- 
tirel}\ Of late he has had some pain 
which his parents were at a loss to ac- 
count for, until it was discovered that 
the little lad devours everything he 
comes across in his travels, such as but- 
tons, bits of bark and generous lunches 
from the house-plants. 

The exercises given him have been 
movements for every muscle in his 
body. He is swung by the arms, by one 
leg and one arm, by both legs, his arms 
are exercised in order to develop his 
biceps; the nock, chest and abdominal 
muscles are given their due share of 
attention, and indeed, lie is given almost 
as many movements as his mother takes 
herself. He lifts, very easily, a two- 
pound in>n dumb-bell in one hand, and 
when lie desires a glimpse of the dining 



246 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

table, pulls himself up from the floor 
and looks it over. 

He has never had candy — nor cakes — 
indeed nothing but an occasional soft 
boiled egg, a cereal, and bread and milk 
or broth. His change from mother's 
milk to these last was made gradually. 

His clothing consists of three pieces 
beside shoes and stockings and the in- 
dispensable "creepers" which he wears 
at all times excepting when going out. 
Then he very much resents the skirts 
which impede his progress. 

No pressure of any kind has ever 
offended his firm white flesh, and his 
coloring, ever since the first days of his 
birth, has been perfect. His eyes are 
wonderful in their clear black depths, 
and his hair abundant in its soft brown 
silkiness. 

He goes regularly to bed at six 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 247 

o 'clock and sleeps twelve hours ; lias his 
exercises and bath at ten in the morn- 
ing and then comes a nap. His bath is 
as nearly the temperature of the body 
as possible and has been taken in the 
tub since he was three months of age. 

Regularity has been a special feature 
of his training. He requires so much 
less anxious thought and care than 
youngsters treated in the usual way that 
Mrs. Medland appreciates more than 
ever the great saving of time, to say 
nothing of trouble, that has resulted 
from her intelligent preparation for his 
advent. 

There are no geographical limitations 
to the value of physical culture as ap- 
plied to babies, in proof whereof is this 
story about a wee maiden from the far 
Southern States. 

Baby Yost made a very fortunate 



248 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

choice when she instructed the stork to 
leave her with Mr. and Mrs. H. C. 
Yost, of 506% E. Houston Street, San 
Antonio, Texas. She has been a phys- 
ical culture girl from the start. When 
three weeks old, she wriggled and 
twisted and squirmed and seemed to be 
suggesting that she was quite ready for 
work. A daily regime of play-exercises 
has been hers ever since then. 

Like most babies she has shown a de- 
cided inclination in certain very sensi- 
ble directions. She approves of a 
wardrobe as near Nature's own as pos- 
sible. Children usually do. What 
mother has not remarked a baby's de- 
light when its clothes were taken off! 
How it stretches the beautiful little legs 
and arms and crows in happiness at its 
freedom ! And then when it is dressed 
again the mother wonders why it is fret- 




Baby Yost at twenty-one months. Raises first one 
foot, then the other — the same movement with the 
hands. Then stretches out both arms, resting on toes 
and head. 




Baby thinks sticks, brooms, etc., are made just to ban' 
(Hi to. 

249 




Preparing for a somersault. 




From tli is position Papa Yost lets go of either her 
hande or feet and slie swings equally well head up or 
down. 

250 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 251 

fill and cross. But Miss Yost was en- 
couraged in her love of air baths and 
was taught to exercise with very few 
garments to hinder her in so doing. 

More often than otherwise she exer- 
cises outdoors on the lawn. It is the 
most delightful play for her, and now 
that she is twenty-one months old she 
does not need as much help as she once 
did in order to go through a long pro- 
gramme of very interesting stunts. 

A pair of very enthusiastic physical 
culturists, also from the South are Mr. 
and Mrs. H. C. Davis of Tampa, Fla. 
The series of snap-shots that follow of 
their little girl taken when she was but 
ten weeks of age warrants their asser- 
tion that she is a fine specimen of a 
physical culture baby. Prior to her 
birth and in spite of continued and well- 
meant protests from mistaken friends 




252 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 253 

and relatives, Mrs. Davis kept up her 
exercises until the very last day preced- 
ing the arrival of the little one, even 
accompanying her husband on a two- 
weeks' cruise down Tampa Bay, in an 
open boat, six weeks before Miss Pansy 
advented. The result was that only 
about one-half hour's pain accompanied 
the birth of a healthy, happy, eight- 
pound baby. Congratulations came in 
from everyone on her "good luck" in 
having such an "easy time." The fact 
that common sense and not good luck 
was responsible for the minimum of 
suffering was quite overlooked. 

It must not lie forgotten that physical 
Cidture for babies is not merely a build- 
er but a restorer also. Where the little 
one's constitution lias been wrecked by 
neglect, by drugs or by the well meant 
but mistakei] methods of parents, phys- 



254 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

ical culture steps in and often literally 
snatches the small victim from out the 
jaws of death. A case in point follows. 
When Baby Phyllida Ward whose 
photograph appears in this chapter, was 
born she was indeed a fine specimen of 
a child born under healthy prenatal con- 
ditions which were due to the well- 
ordered and sensible life of the mother. 
Like all fond mothers, however, Mrs. 
Ward made the common mistake of 
overfeeding the new arrival and in con- 
sequence, when the child was three 
weeks old, it suddenly developed an at- 
tack of severe indigestion. This was 
followed by convulsions that often lasted 
for forty-eight hours at a time. The 
convulsions gradually stopped, but the 
child remained weak and frightfully 
thin and the distracted parents sought 
the advice of doctors. 




255 



256 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

Up to the age of four months the 
baby was treated by medical practition- 

ers and continually dosed with medicine 
and whiskey until given up by them. 
The mother then resorted to her prac- 
tical knowledge of physical culture and 
her first act was to keep the baby in the 
fresh air from four a. m. until eleven 
p. m. Sunbaths were given instead of 
the medicines, and an improvement was 
immediately perceived. The various 
patent foods that the doctors had rec- 
ommended were also stopped, and for 
some time, cow's milk Avas used in a 
slightly peptonized form. 

From that time on the change for the 
better in the condition of the child was 
of a miraculous sort. She became vig- 
orous, ate heartily, digested her food 
thoroughly, slept soundly and, with the 
aid of proper exercises, developed a 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 257 

wealth of muscle. Earth and water and 
the baby were in constant juxtaposi- 
tion and she flourished amazingly in 
consequence. A single garment par- 
tially covered her beautiful little body 
and when the opportunity served she 
quietly shed it. To-day, she too, is a 
baby athlete and her parents arise to 
call physical culture blessed! 

The story of little Harriet Patterson 
as told by her father, is of unique in- 
terest inasmuch as it deals with an in- 
valid child who for four years was 
vainlessly treated by doctors being, not 
only restored to health by physical cul- 
ture methods, but becoming a profes- 
sional athlete in addition. The tale is 
related by Mr. Patterson thus: 

"The accompanying pictures of my 
daughter will give some idea of what 
may bo accomplished \\H h a child taken 









mu 



Some play exercises performed 



258 




by Harriet Patterson. 



260 




An exercising feat accomplished by little Harriet 
Patterson. 



2G0 



SOME BABY xVTHLETES 261 

in hand under the most unpromising 
conditions. 

' ' My wife died when our baby was five 
days old, after having undergone bar- 
barous treatment at the hands of regu- 
lar doctors. For four years the child 
was submitted to medical treatment, 
and then in despair that she was ever 
going to be well unless different meth- 
ods were adopted I dismissed our doc- 
tor and determined to do what I could 
for her myself. I began to study nat- 
ural n loans of cure, and finally adopted 
a system for her which has accom- 
plished really wonderful things. I began 
with healthful play, lightly at first, but 
the child soon wanted more, and she 
-real \y enjoyed si ripping off: lief clothes 
and playing for half an hour or more 
in a sunbath, or before bedtime at 
night. When she played I tossed and 



262 HEALTH FOR BxVBIES 

pulled her around and gradually de- 
veloped the system of exercises which 
are here illustrated. I have no 'iron- 
clad' rules as to when and how much 
to exercise, any more than if I were 
playing with a kitten. It is all spon- 
taneous. She is now almost seven years 
old, and as healthy and happy as if she 
had not started life handicapped by an 
apparently incurable disease. I doubt 
if any child enjoys her play with other 
children, or has more happy hours or 
a more nearly perfect mind and body 
than has my little daughter. She seems 
always to be laughing, whistling or 
singing. Her greatest happiness is in 
giving exhibitions of 'play culture.' 

"We have been vegetarians now for 
years, inclining much to uncooked food 
and frequently fasting for further 
bodily and mental perfection. Fur 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 263 

eight months we have each lived upon 
eight cents per day for food, and never 
enjoyed any diet so much before. 

"Her training was begun with no 
thought of financial gain at all, but only 
because I desired her to be strong and 
healthy, but the play exercises we have 
evolved are now a fertile source of in- 
come to us. When giving night exhibi- 
tions little Harriet has a good nap dur- 
ing the day to prevent her suffering 
Erom loss of sleep." 

A remarkable baby athlete is tiny 
Ethel .Mario Froehlich, who has devel- 
oped into a strong and healthy girl 
through physical culture, acquiring per- 
fect conl !•(»! of every muscle of her little 
body. The development of menial 
power and the control of her nerves, 
which came aboul coincidently with the 
strengthening of her body, is remark- 




264 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 267 

able. The child does not know what 
fear is, has remarkable self-possession, 
and is calm and self-poised at all times. 
Her endurance is wonderful. Ethel is 
now two years and ten months of age, 
and tips the scales at a trifle more than 
thirty-two pounds. 

In a preceding chapter, Mrs. Cope has 
told <>f her experiences along the lines 
in question, the outcome of which was a 
physically and mentally perfect little 
one. F< dlowing, will be given more tes- 
timony of the same sort, all of which 
furnishes a reply to the queries sug- 
gested. And it will be noted that in 
every instance the latent muscular jios- 
siliililios of the children have been so 
developed that they arc that which the 
heading of this chapter proclaims them 
to b< — baby athletes. 

The photograph which concludes lliis 



268 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

chapter is an illustration of what mas- 
sage treatment will do in developing a 
healthy and well-poised child. The pic- 
ture is that of a strong, well-trained, 16- 

months baby. The efforts of the father 
and mother in anticipation of the new 
arrival, are well worth taking to heart, 
since, by the intelligent application of 
exercise, and a clean methodical life, 
they have bequeathed strong nerves, 
pure blood, and almost superabundant 
health to their child. 

The mother exercised morning and 
night in the fresh air with windows wide 
open, using three-pound swinging clubs 
for the purpose. Her husband encour- 
aged her to take up wrestling bouts with 
him and other forms of pleasant exer- 
cise that might suggest themselves to 
him. The result of this preparation 
was that the mother had a quick cleliv- 



SOME BABY ATHLETES 269 

eiy, no trouble and was without the need 
of a doctor. 

When two weeks old, the father began 
to give massage treatment to the child. 
This was followed by playful exercises, 
tossing the child about and strengthen- 
ing the little body generally, until at five 
months, Beatrice was so strong that she 
managed to explore every part of the 
house, getting along on hands and feet. 
At the present time she allows herself to 
be tin-own up into the air and to be 
caught as shown in illustration. The 
feal is remarkable for a child, requiring 
•i greal amount of steadiness and good 
control of the body. 




Beatrice, a remarkably strong baby of 1G nios. 



270 



CHAPTER XXX 

rOri'LAR MISTAKES OF MOTHERS 

Eels, evils and errors live long and die hard. — 
Spanish Proverb. 

Nearly all the mistakes made by tlie 
average mother in the rearing of her 
children are due to delusions that are as 
ancient as they arc persistent. Even 
those parents who recognize the errors 
of the prevailing system, often want the 
courage to put their beliefs into prac- 
tice, fearing thai harm may befall their 
darlings and that they will in conse- 
quence be accused op sacrificing them to 
"new-fangled*' noi ions. 

A summary of such delusions may be 
staled thus: That baby from birth 
271 



272 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

must be swaddled in as many garments 
as possible, the fact being ignored that 
the skin, for a half score of reasons, 
ought to have free contact with the out- 
side air. 

That rooms through which the air is 
circulating are highly dangerous to 
baby's health, when as a matter of fact, 
precisely the contrary is the case. 

That a baby will grow strong and 
vigorous even if it be rarely taken out- 
side of the house. 

That so-called baby foods are just as 
good as the food which Nature intended 
for the infant, although mother's milk 
has a living, vital quality to it which is 
absent in the patent preparations and 
that it contains eveiy element in exact 
proportion needed for the making of 
blood, bone, flesh and sinew. 

That "soothing syrups" and like 



MISTAKES OF MOTHERS 273 

poisonous compounds arc harmless and 
really do the work which their proprie- 
tors foolishly or mendaciously claim 
they can accomplish. 

That whenever baby cries it must he 
hungry, whereas it is often thirsty and 
wants water instead of more nourish- 
ment. 

That the idiotic custom of jogging, 
jolting or thumping the back of a baby 
is for sonic reason or the other an ex- 
cellent one. whereas an adult subjected 
i«. the same treatmeni day after day 
would assuredly exhibit symptoms of 
interna] disarrangement of sonic sort 
or the ot her. 

Thai ii doesn'l do baby a bit of harm 
to keep iis little brain excited and ils 
immature nerves tense during most of 
its waking hours by teaching it cunning 
tricks or making it do sinnrs for the 




A fine physical culture child. 
274 



MISTAKES OF MOTHERS 275 

edification of admiring friends or ador- 
ing* relatives. 

That it is "fun" to feed baby morsels 
of meat, pastry, candy and the like and 
watch its instinctive efforts to get rid of 
the unnatural stuff. 

That baby is made of glass and is in 
consequence likely to snap if it is exer- 
cised in any way. 

That promiscuous kissing of the child 
is permissible even by strangers, be- 
cause it proves what an irresistible pet 
it is. 

That the use of the enema is perfectly 
dreadful, but that powerful purgatives 
are quite permissible. 

That huge diapers should be the rule, 
notwithstanding that they tend to bow- 
legs and weaken the muscles of the abdo- 
men by subjecting them to a perpetual 
sweal bath. 



276 HEALTH FOR BABIES 

That baby needs baths of the hottest, 
and that the pores of its skin must be 
clogged with a layer of powder of some 
kind. 

That— but why extend the list? 
Enough has been recited to show what 
baby has to contend with at the hands 
of his well meaning but terribly mis- 
taken mother. 



THE EXD. 



STRENGTH FROM EATING. 



By bernarr macfadden. 

How and what to eat and drink to de- 
velop Suppleness, Strength and 
Beauty of Body. 

Muscular exercise develops strength, providing 
nourishing foods are furnished. Knowledge of 
the elements of which all foods are composed is 
absolutely essential in order to develop strong 
and beautiful muscles. 

This book teaches you not only what to eat and 
drink, but how to eat. It gives you information 
which the author has collected from fifteen years 
of study and experimentation. 

You spend part of every day in eating. Do 
you know how and what to eat to build increased 
strength? If not, this book will tell you. Read 
it ! Think as you read, and if the plain truths it 
contains do not cause you to make radical 
changes in your diet, return the book and get your 
money back. 

TITLES OF CHAPTERS. 

Appetite. Mastication. Process of Digestion. 
Air a Food. Three-Meal Plan. Two-Meal Plan. 
One-Meal Plan. Necessity of Pure Water. Meat, 
or Mixed Diet. Vegetarian Diet. Raw Diet. 
Cooking of Foods. Food and Occupation. Over- 
en ling. Alcoholic Liquors. Alcohol is not a 
Food. Drinking at Meals. Coffee and Tea. 
White Bread Curse. Elements of Foods. Muscle 
Making Elements. Fattening Elements. Analy- 
sis of the various foods made from wheat. Oats 
and Other Grains. Vegetables. Dairy-Products. 
Fruits. Meats. Nuts, Fish. 

'Bound in Cloth, prepaid, for $1.00. 
PHYSIC/*' CULTURE PUB. CO., 29 :<:< E. iQth St. N.Y 



HEALTH— BEAUTY— SEXUALITY 

FROM GIRLHOOD TO WOMANHOOD 

By BERNARR MACFADDEN and MARION MALCOLM 
The Companion Book, to 

"POWER AND BEAUTY OF SUPERB WOMANHOOD" 

An invaluable work for growing girls and young women. 
Jt tells them what they should know about themselves 
in order to develop all the health and magnetic charm 
that are easily within the reach of every intelligent ycur.g 
woman. It tells girls what they should know of subjects 
rarely discussed but which are of utmost importance to the 
attainment of superb womanly beauty. Profusely illus- 
trated with large full-page photographs. 

PARTIAL LIST OF CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER I.— Admiration of Physical Beauty Uni- 
versal. 

CHAPTER II. — Conventional Teachings Prudish and 
Demoralizing. 

CHAPTER III.— The Teachings of the Ancient Greeks. 

CHAPTER IV.— False Ideas of Modesty. 

CHAPTER V. — Xo Excuse for Ignorance. 

CHAPTER YL— Acuteness of the Sex Instinct. 

CHAPTER VII.— How the Power of Sex Instinct Can 
be Developed. 

CHAPTER VIII.— Illustrated Anatomy of Organs of 
Sex. 

CHAPTER IX.— What Menstruation Is. 

CHAPTER X.— Care of the Body. During Menstruation. 

CHAPTER XL— Proper Attitude Toward Men and 
Boys. 

CHAPTER XII.— The Girl Who Gets the Most Lovers. 

CHAPTER XIIL— Attitude Toward Opposite Sex. 

CHAPTER XV.— Physical Qualities Men Like in a 
Girl. 

CHAPTER XVI.— Mental Qualities Men Like in a 
Girl. 

CHAPTER XVI L— Moral Qualities Men Like in a 
Girl. 

CHAPTER XVIII.— A Girl's Ideal Man. 

and 20 more valuable chapters, with Exercises for 

Beautifying Neck, Shoulders, Arms, Chest, Waist, Hips, 

Upper Legs and Calves. 

Bound iu cloth, postpaid, $1.00. 

PHYSICAL CULTURE PUB. CO., 2933 E. 19th St., N. Y. 



Scisnce of Muscular Development 

By ALBE11T TRELOAR 

Winner of the $1000 Prize at the Physical Culture Competition at 

Madison Square Garden, Nev) York 

For the Most Perfectly Developed Man in the Wor'd 

Assisted by MISS EDNA TEMl'EST 

IDEALS IN REGARD TO THE BODY BEAUTIFUL. 
-Beautifully rounded muscles; strength; a fine, erect car- 
riage; ideal body should possess grace and quickness 
equal y as well as great strength. 

A PLEA FOR THE BODY.— Next to clear conscience, 
healthy body most desriable thing in life. Mental success 
depends upon physical vigor. 

ANATOMY OF THE BODY.— Valuable chapter de- 
scribing the wonderful arrangement of the complex and 
delicate human machine. An inestimable handbook on 
anatomy for the student who intends to take up the teach- 
ing of Physical Culture. Numerous i'lustrations of differ- 
ent parts of the human anatomy showing wonderful ar- 
rangement. 

PHYSIOLOGY IX ITS RELATION TO EXERCISE. 
— The constant destruction of bone, muscular, vascular 
wall, membrane and tissue going on in the body. Re- 
paired by nutrition. How it is created in the body. What 
kind of food are muscles built from? What food makes 
tissue, bone, energy, fat? 

EXERCISES: KINDS OF AND AMOUNT.— Exercises 
with and without apparatus. How to exercise to advan- 
tage though confined to a small room. Apparatus not 
needed. Amount of exercise governed by condition of 
heart. What to do if in doubt in regard to proper con- 
dition of this organ. 

REMEDIAL KXKRCISFS.— Exercises for correcting 
malformations and deformities. Some a'most incredible 
cures of diseases. Weaknesses and diseases that can be 
remedied by exercise. 

EXERCISES TO REDUCE FAT.— Obesity inherited. 
Obesity acquired. Difference between the two. What 
foods cause obesity. How a stout person can oxidize or 
burn fat out of the system. What to do when fattv degen- 
eracy of the heart has set in. 

EXERCISES TO INCREASE WEIGHT.— Peculiar ex- 
ih.it will cause increase of weight. What ioods 
must be chosen in a diet to add weight to body. How to 
c'othe. How to bathe. How to eat to increase weight. 

IXERCISES FOR MEN. WOMEN AM) CHILDREN. 
— Described in three distinct chapters and illustrated by 
• "M than 60 full-page photographs posed by the author 
and bis wife. Edna Tempest. The exercises for women 
ijive the secret of a perfect womanly figure. The exer- 
. ims fur men are based on the acquirement of strength, 
endurance, muscle and the greatest amount of mental 
newer. Exercises as near as possible to the play insti«*"t 

,«ie given for children. 

'I m1o.it \ "Science Ot Muscular Development" is made 
'•'I of more than 200 pages, of a Bize like the pages of 
"Physical Culture," and is printed from large, new, clear 

type. Mr. Treloar is a Harvard man, a physical culturist 
of many years' experience and understands his subject 
■.'.e'l. The book is unquestionably the most complete of its 

kind published. To see a copy means that you ■.•.ill want 

one. No expense has been Bpared by its publishers to 
produce this hook in a manner fitting its valuable contents. 

B .ini.l i i CI ai,, prepaid ft .. 

PHYSCAL CULTURE PUB. CO., 29-3H E. 19th St., N. Y. 



MARRIAGE, A LIFE-LONG 
HONEYMOON. 



BERNARR MACFADDEN'S LATEST AND GREATEST 
BOOK FOR MEN AND WOMEN. 

Deals with the natural laws in the relations of 
the sexes. Satisfying happiness can only be se- 
cured by obeying life's highest laws. Those who 
seek continuous pleasure will find it only by fol- 
lowing the strict injunctions of the noblest hu- 
man instincts. 

SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS. 

I,ife 13 a continuous struggle for happiness. 

What is happiness, and how is it to be found? 

Fascination of courtship. 

The life beautiful: Can the dream be realized? 

Existing conditions in this degenerate age. 

The causes of all these abnormalities. 

The curse of prudishness. 'r. 

Sex immorality the world's most monumental curse. 

Present perverted idea of sex morality. 

False idea of marital duties. 

The unsexinjand physically debilitating effects of corset* 

The dread ot motherhood. 

I^ack of protective instinct in women. 

Excesses that lessen vitality of both sexes. 

Doctors often advise prostitution. 

is sex relationship necessary to health? 

Verve blighting influences of tobacco. 

Paralyzing effect of alcohol upon the nervous system. 

'■Jerve-benumbing results of overfeeding. 

The drug habit and its torpifying, paralyzing eflect. 

Monogamy in its perfect state. 

Axe children necessary to a happy home? 

Man's requirements for marriage. 

Woman's requirements for marriage. 

Marriage the most divine of all human relations. 

Honeymoons frequently marred by lustful excesses. 

A wrong beginning the greatest evil of marriage. 

Plain instructions to those about to be marrieit. 

Happiness depends upon the control of the passions. 

Tremendous power to be obtained by diverting the nerv- 
ous energies of sex to other channels. 

The thrill of a tender caress. 

Who is to blame when hands grow clammy and lips cold 

The plain remedy for those who have made a wrong be- 
ginning. 

Can a dead love be revived? 

A cold, detailed analysis of love's emotions. 

Too ethereal; not practical or possible. 

This book, of <vital Merest to both sexes, c a)id be 
vent, postpaid, anywhere upon receipt of $1.00. 

PHYSICAL CULTURE" PUB. CO.. 20-33 E. 19th St., N Y 



DEC 311904 



'"IIMIIIll" 



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